
VIEW OF THE SHERMAN MONUMENT 

From the Northwest (White House). 



SHERMAN 



A Memorial in Art, Oratory, and Literature by the 
Society of the Army of the Tennessee with the aid 
of the Congress of the United States of America 



Prepared by Authority of Congress 

Under the Direction of Col. Thomas W. Symons 

Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army 

In Charge of Monument and Ceremonies 

By 

DeB. Randolph Keim 

War Correspondent of the New York Herald 

Attending the Operations of the Army of the Tennessee, 1 862-3-4 



Government Printing Office : 1 904 






[Fifty-eighth Congress, second session, concurrent resolution No. 57.] 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 

March 17, 1904. — Submitted by Mr. Penrose, of Pennsylvania. 

March 17, 1904. — Referred to the Committee on Printing and ordered to be printed. 

March 23, 1904. — Reported by Mr. Platt, of New York, with an amendment; consid- 
ered, amended, and agreed to. 

April 21, 1904.— Reported by Mr. L,axdis, of Indiana, asking "unanimous consent for 
the present consideration of Senate concurrent resolution No. 57." There was no 
objection. The resolution was agreed to, as follows: 

That there be printed and bound in the form such as is customary 
in the case of eulogies twelve thousand copies of the proceedings and 
accompanying documents, with suitable process plates to be bound there- 
with, upon the unveiling of the statue of General William T. Sherman 
of which three thousand copies shall be for the use of the Senate, six 
thousand copies for the use of the House of Representatives, and three 
thousand copies, of which two hundred copies shall be bound in full 
morocco, to be distributed under the direction of the chairman of the 
Joint Committee on the Library, in such manner as, in his judgment, 

mav be desirable. 

(2) 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

General Sherman Statue Committee 9 

Sherman Statue Commission n 

Introductory ' 13 

Inception of the memorial 13 

Raising of funds 14 

Congressional cooperation 15 

General Sherman Statue Commission created 16 

Finances 16 

Invitation to sculptors 17 

Conditions of competition 17 

Rules of competition 17 

Entries for competition 18 

A model exhibit 19 

The award 20 

The contract 21 

Death of the sculptor 24 

The Statue 25 

Sherman Plaza 25 

Carl Rohl-Smith, sculptor 26 

Story of the Monument, by Mrs. Carl Rohl-Smith 27 

Inscriptions, emblems, and bas-reliefs on the pedestal 30 

The Arrangements 33 

The stands 33 

Flag decorations 34 

Floral display 35 

Invitations 36, 

Form of, and reply 36 

Tickets 37 

Form of tickets 38 

Police arrangements 38 

(3) 



4 Contents. 

Page. 
The Arrangements — Continued. 

Carriage regulations 39 

Guests 40 

Seating of the guests 42 

Arrival of the President 42 

The Parade 45 

A pageant of war 45 

Parade formation 45 

Head of column, " Forward" 47 

Route of march 47 

In review 47 

The President 47 

Unison of harmony and step 48 

Parade, rest 4S 

The Dedication 49 

The Unveiling Commission 49 

Order of exercises 49 

Called to order 50 

Invocation 50 

Introductory address — 

Review of the history of the statue by Maj. Gen. Grenville M. 

Dodge, chairman of the commission and presiding officer . . 53 

Sherman in Art 57 

Honors 57 

The Unveiling 59 

Sherman in Oratory 61 

The President announced 61 

The President's address 63 

Gen. D. B. Henderson's oration 69 

Gen. Daniel E. Sickles's address 81 

Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor's address S5 

Gen. Thomas J. Henderson's address 93 

In conclusion 99 

Benediction 99 

Departure of the President 99 

Complimented by the President 100 

Committee on Reception 101 



Contents. 5 



Page. 

Reunions 103 

Commemorative gayeties 103 

Society of the Army of the Tennessee 103 

Society of the Army of the Cumberland 106 

Society of the Army of the Potomac 112 

Society of the Army of the Ohio 115 

Local hospitality — Society of the Army of the Potomac 116 

The Aztec Society of 1847 117 

A brilliant ending of a superb beginning 119 

Grand Army of the Republic 1 24 

My country 'tis of thee 124 

Sherman in Literature 

Sherman: A memorial sketch by DeB. Randolph Keim, civil 

war correspondent 125 

A military pass 384 

Sherman in the Record (official) 385 

Sherman in Books: A Bibliography 391 

Index 401 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Face page. 
Frontispiece — View of the Monument from the northwest (White 

House ) Faces title. 

The Statue: 

View of the Monument from the northeast, Pennsylvania 

Avenue 25 

Diagram of Sherman Plaza 26 

Portrait of the sculptor 27 

The Arrangements: 

Diagram of plan of stands 33 

The Parade: 

In Review — 

No. 1. Lieutenant-General Young, head of column in 

review 45 

No. 2. U. S. Infantry entering court of honor 45 

No. 3. U. S. Infantry passing in review before the Presi- 
dent 45 

No. 4. National Guard, D. C, passing in review before the 

President 45 

The Dedication: 

Major-General Dodge, presiding officer 53 

Sherman in Bronze: 
Flag series — 

• No. 1. The statue veiled 59 

No. 2. Statue unveiled 59 

No. 3. Bird's-eye view of court 59 

No. 4. William Tecumseh Sherman Thorndike 59 

(7) 



8 List of Illustrations. 

Sherman in Oratory: Face page. 

The President of the United States 63 

Gen. David B. Henderson 69 

Gen. Daniel E. Sickles 81 

Gen." Charles H. Grosvenor 85 

Gen. Thomas J. Henderson 93 

Colonel Symons in charge of Monument and ceremonies 99 

A memorial sketch of William Tecumseh Sherman: 

Gen. W. T. Sherman in command of the U. S. Army 125 

Sherman at Shiloh, Tenn 195 

Sherman at Missionary Ridge 240 

The battle of Atlanta, Ga 278 

Sherman's marches: Chattanooga, Tenn., .to Atlanta, Ga.; 

Atlanta to Savannah, Ga. : Savannah to Goldsboro, N. C . . . 294 

Major-General Sherman, U. S. Armv, march to the sea 313 

The grave of Sherman 380 

A military pass 384 



THE GENERAL SHERMAN STATUE COMMITTEE 

OF THE 

Society of the Army of the Tennessee, 

In charge of the inception and prosecution of the Monument. 

Constituted by Resolution of the Society. 

1891, Oct. 8, Chicago, 111. Washington, D. C, Oct. 15, 1903. 

Maj. Gen. Grenvii.ee M. Dodge, Council Bluffs, Iowa, President. 
Col. J. F. How,« St. Louis Mo. ( Treasurer). Died July 9, 1S96. 
Brig. Gen. Andrew Hickeneooper, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Brig. Gen. John W. Noble, Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. 
Col. David B. Henderson, Dubuque, Iowa. 
Maj. S. E. Barrett, & Chicago, III. Resigned. 
Col. Augustus Jacobson, Chicago, III. Died October 15, 1903. 
Col. W. McCrory/' Minneapolis, Minn. Died February ij, 1893. 
Col. Corneeius Cadee, Cincinnati, Ohio, Secretary. 

a Succeeded by Brig. Gen. Andrew Hickenlooper. 
b Succeeded by Col. Augustus Jacobson. 
c Succeeded by Col. Cornelius Cadle. 

(9) 



THE SHERMAN STATUE COMMISSION. 

Created by act of Congress approved July 5, 1892. 

Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, 

President of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee; 

Chairman May 27, 1896-1904. 

Hon. Stephen B. Elkins, Secretary of War, 1892-93.(1 
Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, Secretary of War, 1893-1897.^ 
Hon. RUSSELL A. Aeger, Secretary of War, 1897-1800. " 
Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War, 1S99-1904A 

Maj. Gen. John M. Schofieed, 
Commanding the Army of the United States, 1S92-1895. 

Lieut. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, 
Commanding the Army of the United States, 1895-1903. 

Lieut. Gen. S. B. M. Young, 
Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, 1903. 

IN CHARGE OF ERECTION OF THE MONUMENT. 
Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army. 

Col. John M. Wilson, 1895-1897, 
Lieut. John S. Sewell, 1897, 
Col. Theodore A. Bingham, 1897-1903, 
Col. Thomas W. Symons, 1903, 

In charge of completion of Monument and of 
Monument and ceremonies of unveiling. 

a No proceedings. 

6 Competition, and contract signed; Mr. John Seager, secretary of commission. 
c No record of meetings. 

dMr. W. S. Coursey elected secretary December 10, 1900. Mr. Merritt O. Chance, sec- 
retary. October 10, 1902. 

(II) 



INTRODUCTORY. 



INCEPTION OF THE MEMORIAL. 

During the proceedings of the twenty-third annual meeting 
of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee at Chicago, 111., 
October 7-8, 1891, Gen. Grenville M. Dodge offered a resolu- 
tion for the appointment of a committee of five to draft a suit- 
able tribute to their late president and commander and "to 
recommend some action by the society to commemorate his 
death by a suitable memorial." Col. James F. How added a 
resolution calling for a committee of five for the raising of funds 
' ' from the members of this society " to be used in the erection of 
a monument to Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, and "to 
have full power to use any funds collected by them, in the erec- 
tion of such a monument as they may approve, at such locality 
as they may decide. ' ' 

These propositions were drawn in formal resolutions and 
adopted unanimously on October 8, 1891, "that there should 
be some suitable and permanent expression of the respect, ad- 
miration, and gratitude felt by the American people for the 
noble character, lofty patriotism, and invaluable services of 
Gen. William T. Sherman" — locating the statue at the 
national capital — and authorizing the president of the society 
to appoint a committee of five persons to be known as the 

(13) 



1 4 Introduction . 

"General Sherman Statue Committee," with authority to col- 
lect subscriptions in the name of the society and to memorialize 
the Congress of the United States to aid in the work. 
This committee was appointed. (See p. 9.) 

RAISING OF FUNDS. 

On November 9 following, at a meeting of the committee, 
resolutions were adopted constituting Generals Henderson and 
Noble a committee on legislation to ask an appropriation of 
$50,000, being the same amount contributed by Congress "for 
site, pedestal, and statue" of Generals Hancock, Logan, and 
Sheridan; also authorizing the committee to invite the Societies 
of the Armies of the Ohio, Potomac, and Cumberland, the 
Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and the Society of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, through their chief officer, to 
unite in raising the fund desired ; also to request the citizens of 
the several States and Territories to contribute, and instructing 
the chairman to appoint a committee of five in each State to 
carry out the object proposed, with power to appoint sub- 
committies to aid them in their work. A form of circular was 
adopted, setting forth the plans of the committee, to be 
addressed to the societies named, asking their cooperation and 
assistance. 

On November 11, 1891, the committee issued an appeal to 
the Society of the Army of the Tennessee urging that ' ' a sum 
sufficiently large should be obtained from our members to 
enable us to appeal to others for assistance in carrying on the 
work." 

The efforts of the society were made the subject of General 
Orders, No. 7, Albany, N. Y., January 9, 1892, Adjutant- 
General's Office, Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic. 



Introduction. 15 

In stirring pronouncement, the following tribute was paid to 

the subject of the proposed memorial: 

He of all the preeminently great commanders during the struggle for 
national unity, since the war, was superlatively one of us. At our camp 
fires and reunions, department or national encampments, "Uncle Billy" 
was ever a prominent and welcome figure. His efforts for the welfare 
and pleasure of the "hoys," no matter how arduous or how great a drain 
upon his time, were always deemed a labor of love and duty, to be 
fulfilled without abatement. No honors paid him abroad or at home 
ever tended to weaken his love and solicitous interest in those who 
"marched with him from Atlanta to the sea," or stood a bulwark between 
the nation and its foes on bloody, hard-fought fields. 

A contribution was urged by every command, no matter 
how small the amount, "so that when the statue is erected in 
Washington every soldier who sees it win feel that it is a part 
of his effort." 

On February 10 the members of the Society of the Army of 
the Tennessee were advised of what had been done and were 
called upon to make every effort through their posts and by 
individual exertion among themselves and friends to aid in 
swelling the fund. 

CONGRESSIONAL COOPERATION. 

Through the exertions of the committee on legislation, 
assisted by the general committee and friends in and out of 
Congress, that body, under act approved July 5, 1892, enacted 
' ' for the preparation of a site and the erection of pedestal for a 
statue of the late Gen. William T. Sherman, said site to 
be selected by and said pedestal to be erected under the super- 
vision of the General Sherman Statue Commission, president 
of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, the Secretary of 
War, and the Major-General Commanding the United States 
Army * * * fifty thousand dollars." 



i6 



Introduction. 



The commission having been authorized, no initial action 
was taken respecting the actual erection of the statue pendiug 
the collection of funds from private sources. (See p. n.) 

COMMISSION CREATED — FINANCES. 

The following exhibits the various appropriations made by 
Congress in connection with the Sherman statue, from 1892- 
1904. 



Designation of item. 



July 5, 1S92 



FOR PEDESTAL AND STATUE. 

For the preparation of a site and the erection of a pedestal 
for a statue of the late Gen. William T. Sherman, said site 
to be selected by and said pedestal be erected under the 
supervision of the president of the Society of the Army of 
the Ten nessee, the Secretaryof War, and the Major-General 
Commanding the United States Army, and any partof the 
sum hereby appropriated not needed for preparation of 
site and the erection of a pedestal may be vised and ex- 
tended in the completion of said statue of the late Wil- 
liam T. Sherman 

For the completion of the equestrian statue of Gen. Wil- 
liam Tbcumseh Sherman 

For removal of present iron fence around the site of the 
statue and setting up of a substantial granite curb in place 
thereof 

For construction of roadways and paths and improvement 
of grounds about the statue I June 28, 1902 

For completing and unveiling the statue I do 

For extra steps and mosaic work at base of the statue Dec. 22, 1902 

Appropriating and reappropriating and making available 
sums remaining over for the statue, and for improvement 
of grounds, etc Feb. iS, 1904 

Total public 



Date 
appropriated 



Mar. 



i895 



June 6, 1900 



Contributions from private sou res. 

A statement by the treasurer to the General Sherman Statue 
Committee dated St. Louis, Sept. 9, 1S95, showed a balance 
Aug. 31, 1895, on deposit to the credit of the fund $13,332.49. 
In addition there were other sums in sight to bring the 
aggregate up to the amount named 

Total public and private 



Amount 
appro- 
priated. 



Iso, 
30- 



8, 000. co 



500. CO 
000.00 
000.1 



14, 469. 91 



123,969.91 



Introduction. 17 

INVITATION TO SCULPTORS. 

On March 22, 1895, the formal announcement was made by 
General Dodge, president, that " a committee of the Society of 
the Army of the Tennessee, the president of the same society, 
the Secretary of War, and the Lieutenant-General of the Arm}', 
have the authority to erect and supervise the construction of an 
equestrian monument to Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, 
in Washington, D. C," and invited "such artists as desire to 
compete for the erection of the said statue and pedestal to sub- 
mit models." 

CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION. 

In a circular of June 20, General Dodge, president, in behalf 
of both the committee and the commission, in reply to letters 
from sculptors asking for a more detailed statement of the con- 
ditions of the competition, after referring the matter to the 
National Sculpture Society and consultation with a number of 
artists, submitted rules which would govern the competition, 
the essential features of which were : 

The sum of $96,000, raised by subscription and appropriation, 
is available and competition is invited. 

This amount must cover all expenses of the statute ready for 
unveiling, including four awards of $1,000 each and incidentals 
of all kinds, leaving $90,000 actually available for the statue 
and pedestal. 

The monument to be placed in one of the United States res- 
ervations in the city of Washington, D. C. 

RULES OK COMPETITION. 

An accurate and elaborate model of the design, scale 1 inch 
to 1 foot, both pedestal and equestrian statue, to be delivered 
free of expense to G. M. Dodge, president of the Society of the 

S. Doc. 320, 58-2 2 



1 8 Introduction. 

Army of the Tennessee, care of the Secretary of War, Wash- 
ington, D. C, on or before January i, 1896. 

The artists of the next four designs, if deemed satisfactory, 
but not accepted, after the accepted one, to be paid '$1,000 each. 

The successful competitor to enter into contract with the 
United States and give bonds in the sum of $25,000 for the 
performance of the work. A full description, dimensions, 
character of materials, and other necessary information to 
accompany each model. Full name to be given and no secrecy 
maintained; models to be in plaster, no drawings accepted; 
only artists and sculptors residing in the United States or 
Americans residing abroad allowed to compete. A committee 
of the National Sculpture Society to pass on the artistic char- 
acter of the models and experts in bronze castings to decide as 
to quality of materials. The right to reject any and all designs 
reserved by the commission. Public exhibition of models to 
be had two weeks before final decision, the full-sized statue to 
be modeled and all stone and bronze work to be done in the 
United States. 

ENTRIES FOR COMPETITION. 

The following sculptors of established reputation submitted 
models in compliance with the terms and regulations of the 
commission. 

SCULPTORS ENTERING COMPETITIVE MODELS. 

Cliicago— Carl Rohl-Smith. 

New York — H. K. Bush Brown (2 designs), Adrian Jones, James F. 
Kelly, J. O. Lester, Alfred Luzi, Ferdinand Mirauda, C. H. Niehaus (2 
designs), Victor Olsa, W. O. Partridge (2 designs), Richard Hinton 
Perry, J. Massey Rhind, Edwin M. Van Note. 

Paris— George E. Bissel, P. W. Bartlett. 

St. Louis — Robert P. Bringhurst. 

Washington— h, Amateis, F. A. T. Dunbar, H. G. Ellicott, Theodore A. 
Mills. 



Introduction. 19 

A MODEL EXHIBIT. 

The exhibit as a whole at the War Department attracted 
widespread attention. It was largely visited by official and 
unofficial residents, and many persons of taste or professional 
interest in art from the principal cities of the United States. 
In the opinion of experts, connoisseurs, and men and women 
traveled and of home culture, the collection possessed un- 
qualified artistic merit, and was in the highest degree creditable 
to the progressive work of American sculptors. 

At a meeting of the committee of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee in Washington, D. C, January 17, 1896, it was decided: 
"The twenty-three models for the Sherman equestrian statue, 
on exhibition at the War Department, come within the term 
limit," and "are hereby accepted for competition." 

The primary selection was then made and announced in a 
letter of January 21, 1896, to the competing artists that "the 
four models which in their judgment possess the most merit 
for further elaboration and development " are " those offered 
in competition" by "P. W. Bartlett, Carl Rohl-Smith, C. H. 
Niehaus, and J. Massey Rhind," and as "entitled to one of the 
$1,000 premiums for merit, the models submitted by H. K. 
Bush Brown." 

The commission had before them the report of the committee 
from the National Sculpture Society, which reached nearly the 
same conclusion. 

The four sculptors who competed for the final judgment 
were required to send, free of expense and risk, to Gen. G. M. 
Dodge, president of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, 
care of the Secretary of War, Washington, D. C, on or before 
May 15, 1896, their designs, on a scale of 2 inches to 1 foot, 
complete, for award to the artist whose design was considered 



20 Introduction. 

satisfactory. In addition to the premium to the three unsuc- 
cessful artists, $250 were added for additional labor, all other 
requirements for these models to be in conformity with the 
circulars of March 22 and June 20, 1895, and the location 
defined by the committee. 

At the meeting of May 26, 1896, Major-Geueral Dodge was 
authorized to act for the commission and committee in all mat- 
ters of executing contracts for the erection of the statue and to 
pay out of the funds under their control in pursuance of said 
contracts and to see the same duly executed. 

THE AWARD. 

At a meeting of the commission at the Office of the Secretary 
of War on Ma) - 27, 1896, General Dodge was made chairman. 
A secret ballot was taken, without consultation with each other, 
when it was resolved to accept the model of Carl Rohl-Smith, 
of Chicago, conditional upon compliance in all respects with the 
plans and specifications and requirements of the commission 
and committee appointed by acts of Congress and the Society of 
the Army of the Tennessee. 
The committee of award were: 

The Secretary of War, Mr. Damon t. 

The General of the Army, General Miles. 

Maj. Gen. G~enville M. Dodge, President of the Society 

of the Army of the Tennessee, chairman. 
Col. D. B. Henderson, ] Of the General Sherman 
Gen. J. W. Noble, Statue Committee, Society 

Col. Augustus Jacobsou, of the Army of the Ten- 

Col. Cornelius Cadle, J uessee. 

In cooperation with their labors of selection, the commission, 
as announced in their rules, invited a committee of the National 
Sculpture Society to pass upon the artistic character of the 



Introduction. 2i 

models. This committee was composed of Augustus St. 
Gaudens, Bruce Price, J. Q. A. Ward, and D. C. French, who 
met on January 15, 1896, and examined the models. 

THE CONTRACT. 

The articles of agreement, dated at Washington, D. C, 
November 18, 1896, were drawn and signed between Daniel S. 
Damont, Secretary of War, Nelson A. Miles, Major-General 
Commanding U. S. Army, and G. M. Dodge, president of the 
Society of the Army of the Tennessee, first part, and Carl 
Rohl-Smith, sculptor, of Chicago, of the second part, as 
follows: 

By whereases the appropriations by Congress, submission and accept- 
ance of the model and selection of a site are specifically set forth. 

Therefore it is covenanted and agreed between the parties of the first 
part above named, on behalf of the United States of America and the 
party of the second part, also above named, that the party of the second 
part for himself, heirs, etc., will design, model, sculpture, construct, 
erect, and deliver, within four years from the date of signing the agree- 
ment, a bronze equestrian statute of the late Gen. Wiuum Tecumseh 
Sherman, together with a granite pedestal therefor, including certain 
bronze figures and other bronze work and including also the foundation 
and base upon which said pedestal is to rest, all complete, to constitute a 
monument; that he will erect said monument on the site selected and 
upon the general design shown by the model approved by the committee 
of the Army of the Tennessee and an amended model as suggested to be 
prepared and submitted to the committee of the Army of the Tennessee, 
the Secretary of War, and the Major-General commanding the Army and 
approved before work is commenced, etc. 

Then follow specifications for "pedestal for statue of General Sher- 
man" above named, the concrete, the foundation of the pedestal proper, 
of the terrace walls, the buttresses on either side of each flight of steps to 
be of squared stone masonry, of granite or gneiss of established quality 
laid in cement of quality as specified for concrete, all according to accepted 
plans, the shape and size of every stone to be shown in the drawings and 
strictly followed. 

Then is set forth necessary mechanical data and details, of 

which the following is the substance: 

Lettering to be satisfactory to the party of the first part. 



22 Introduction. 



BRONZE WORK. 

The main pedestal winch carries the equestrian portrait, statue of Gen- 
eral Sherman, height, \~ feet 6 inches. 

Group representing "War," height, 8 feet 6 inches. 

Group representing " Peace," height, 8 feet 6 inches. 

Base relief, "Marching through Georgia," size, 7 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 
9 inches. 

Base relief, "Rattle of Atlanta," size, 7 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 9 inches. 

Base relief, "General SHERMAN planning while the Army sleeps," size, 
4 feet by 3 feet 9 inches. 

I'.ase relief, "Missionary Ridge," size 4 feet by 3 feet 9 inches. 

Badge of Society of the Army of the Tennessee, size, 5 feet by 1 foot 6 
inches. 

Coat of arms of the United States, size, 5 feet-by 1 foot 6 inches. 

( )n the four corner pedestals: 

Statue representing "The Corps of Kngineers," height, 6 feet 6 inches. 

Statue representing "The Cavalry," height, 6 feet 6 inches. 

Statue representing "The Artillery," height, 6 feet 6 inches. 

Statue representing "The Infantry," height, 6 feet 6 inches. 

Eight portrait medallions to be selected by the commander of the Army 
of the Tennessee, 1 foot 3 inches by 1 foot 3 inches. 

Models of all the above to be prepared by the party of the first part and 
submitted for the approval of the parties of the second part before cast. 

To he cast in United States standard bronze from one-fourth to three- 
eighths of an inch in thickness. Samples subject to test. 

The bottom edge of the plinth of all the statues to be filed true and out 
of wind, so as to fit closely to the granite. 

The equestrian statue to have two pieces of steel 2 'j inches square cast 
solid in one of the fore legs and in one of the hind legs of the horse; to 
extend into the cap stone 1 foot, and to be secured firmly in place by type 
metal run hot around them. In addition to these bars to be two bronze 
expansion bolts 1 l 2 ' inches in diameter put down through the bronze 
plinth, extending into the granite capstone 9 inches, the bolts being of 
Tobiu bronze. 

All the other statues to be securely fastened to the granite with bronze 
expansion bolts of a suitable size and of the same material. All base 
reliefs, medallions, and emblems to be securely fastened to the granite 
with bronze bolts of the same metal as the base reliefs, the outside ends 
headed and finished not t 1 show. 

The work specified to be done by the artist and not by others. 
The parties of the first part covenanted to pay out of the appropriations 
the aggregate sum of $79,000, and from funds subscribed and furnished by 
the Society of the Army of the Tennessee the further sum of $ 11,000. 



Introduction. 23 

Payments to be made as follows: 

First. Five thousand dollars when the foundation shall be completed 
ready for setting the pedestal and accepted. 

Second. Fifteen thousand dollars when the pedestal shall be completed 
and ready for the equestrian statue and accepted. 

Third. Fifteen thousand dollars when the terrace shall be completed 
and accepted. 

Fourth. Five thousand dollars when the entire granite and brickwork 
shall be completed and accepted. 

Fifth. Twenty thousand dollars upon the completion and acceptance of 
the bronze equestrian statue and all other bronze work at the foundry free 
of all incumbrances. 

Sixth. Nineteen thousand dollars when the bronze statue, emblems, 
base reliefs, etc., are all in position and the whole work completed and 
accepted by the parties of the first part. 

The $11,000 paid by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee through 
its president to be : 

First. Two thousand dollars on signing of the contract for work on 
accepted models. 

Second. Two thousand five hundred dollar* when the plaster model of 
the equestrian group 'was accepted. 

Third. Two thousand five hundred dollars when plaster models of the 
two groups, bas-reliefs, and emblems were accepted. 

Fourth. Two thousand five hundred dollars when plaster models of the 
four corner figures were accepted. 

Fifth. One thousand five hundred dollars when all the bronze work was 
cast and accepted at the foundry. 

All these terms were to be carried out under the direction of 
General Dodge, representing the commission, by the United 
States engineer of public buildings and grounds in charge of the 
work on the monument. 

The subfoundation of the statue, which was completed in 
December, 1898, contains 397.7 cubic yards of concrete; 1 , 142 of 
sand and filling; 284 of back filling, and 1,680 of excavation; 
204 piles, and 19,717 feet of timber. 



24 



Introductions 



The following are the measurements proposed by the sculptor 
in the accepted model and enlargements proposed by the com- 
mission: 



Height of monument 

Height of equestrian 

Height of pedestal 

Length of terrace 

Ground covered from steps in front to steps in rear 

Length of lowest step 

Height of " War" and " Peace" 

Height of corner figures 



By the 


sculpt 


or. 


Ft. 


in. 


47 


6 


17 


6 


3° 





37 





55 


s 


25 





8 


6 


6 


6 



By the 
commis- 
sion. 



Ft. in. 

50 6 

17 6 

33 ° 

41 o 

59 8 

35 ° 

9 6 



DEATH OF THR SCULPTOR. 

At the meeting of December 3, 1900, General Dodge, presi- 
dent, announced the death of the sculptor at Copenhagen, 
Denmark, on August 20, which was communicated by cable 
August 21 and letter August 29, 1900. Also of the desire of 
the widow of the sculptor to complete the statue herself with 
such artistic assistance as she could secure. It was agreed to 
permit the personal representatives of the late Carl Rohl-Smith 
to proceed without unnecessary delay to perform the contract 
in accordance with the designs approved. 

Meetings were held from time to time as the work progressed 
and to meet exigencies as they arose. Every facility in the 
way of a building was arranged for the convenience of the 
sculptor. 

On February 19, 1898, the order for the construction of the 
foundation and pedestal was given by the commission, and work 
began in the spring. 



THE STATUE. 



SHERMAN PLAZA. 



After many suggestions and objections by Congress to the 
East Plaza of the Capitol, the Secretary of War, Mr. Lamont, 
the Commanding General of the Army, General Miles, and the 
president of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, General 
Dodge, selected as the site "for the Society of the Army of the 
Tennessee's equestrian statue of General Sherman" that por- 
tion of the grounds south of the Treasury Department, bounded 
as follows: On the north by the street immediately south of the 
Treasury Department; on the east by Fifteenth street; on the 
south by D street extended, and on the west by the gravel road 
around the ellipse and the south grounds of the Executive 
Mansion. 

By the appropriation act (urgent deficiency ) approved Feb- 
ruary 1 8, 1904, Congress declared: "and for the improvement 
of the grounds in its (the monument ) vicinity, which grounds 
shall be hereafter known as Sherman Plaza. ' ' 

This gives the site its official name and embraces the area 
defined by the bounds as fixed above by the Sherman Statue 
Commission. 

The site is commanding and in keeping with the fame of the 
subject of commemoration. On the north rises the Greek por- 
tico of the Treasury Department, suggesting the classic in 
architecture. On the east stretches away toward the Capitol 

(25) 



26 The Statue. 

Pennsylvania avenue, the via triumphalis of Washington, remi- 
niscent of the great review and reminding of the everyday life 
of the city. 

On the south stretch beautiful landscape effects, with the 
tall, slender outline of the Washington Monument in the dis- 
tance. On the west are seen the picturesque trees and drives 
of the south park of the White House, with a glimpse of the 
chaste white Ionic outlines of the home of the Presidents 
through the varicolored foliage. 

THE SCULPTOR. 

Carl Rohl-Smith was born at Roskild, Denmark, April 3, 
1848. In his early years he showed the artistic bent of his 
thoughts hy many well-executed pieces in such rude material 
as he found at hand. As a youth he was given the advantage 
of instruction and practice under some of the best Danish sculp- 
tors. After acquiring considerable reputation in Europe he 
came to the United States in the early eighties, locating in 
Chicago and becoming a naturalized citizen. He not only stood 
in the first rank of his profession, but, possessing the character- 
istics of a striking personality, had won friends in every walk of 
life. Among his best works are the Soldiers and Sailors' Mon- 
ument, at Des Moines, Iowa; the Indian Massacre, an order 
from the late George Pullman; the Frontiersman, at Austin, 
Tex., and statues for the Woman's Temple, Chicago. Upon 
securing the Sherman commission he removed to Washington. 
In 1900, as a brief respite from his labors, he visited Denmark, 
where he was suddenly taken fatally ill, his death occurring on 
August 20 of that year in Denmark. 

The story of the inauguration of the work and its prosecu- 
tion, as well as the sentiment wrought in bronze, is impressively 
told by the widow of the deceased sculptor. 



S. Doc. 320—58-2. 



In Charge. &&*S<>, 




SHERMAN PLAZA. 
Location, boundaries, and position of the Sherman Monument and its surroundings. 



S. Doc. 320—58-2. 




CARL ROHL-SMITH, SCULPTOR. 



The Statue. 27 

THE STORY OF THE SHERMAN MONUMENT. 
By Mrs. Carl Rohl-Smith. 

As the result of a competition held in January, 1896, Carl Rohl-Smith 
was selected the designer and sculptor of the Sherman monument. 

His sketches, which were commenced in the previous year, underwent 
some elaboration before his signing the contract with the representatives 
of the Government of the United States and the Society of the Army of 
the Tennessee, wherein he agreed to complete the monument in four 
years for the sum of $90,000, giving his bond for #30,000. 

In the summer of 1897 he moved to Washington, D. C, where he erected 
a studio and worked incessantly for three years to make the monument a 
success. Finding the time allowed in the original contract to be insuffi- 
cient, he applied for and was granted one year's extension, which placed 
the time of completion to December, 1901, stating in his letter of applica- 
tion, "If one year is not enough, I shall ask for more. This work should 
not suffer on account of lack of time." 

On August 20, 1900, Carl Rohl-Smith died in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

As to the location of the monument and the general idea by which he 
had been guided in the elaboration of the sketch model, Rohl-Smith 
expressed himself in the detailed description accompanying his design as 
follows: "The gentle sloping grounds south of the Treasury building, 
with the noble Greek architecture, makes one of the finest sites in the 
country for a colossal monument, and in elaborating my sketch model I 
have chosen to preserve the classic style of n\y first model, both because 
I think it is the most expressive form for representing General Sherman 
in sculpture, and at the same time it brings the monument into harmony 
with this splendid building. I regard it as highly important that tin; 
monument be thus brought into artistic harmony and relation with its 
surroundings. The canons of art and the rules for placing monuments in 
ancient and modern times all point in this direction, and I think it would 
be fatal to the artistic success of the memorial to disregard these consid- 
erations." 

Rohl-Smith was much impressed with the character of General Sher- 
man and decided to portray him in his full vigor, as he was known by all 
his fellow-participants in the war. 

The monument having such a commanding position, overlooking 



28 The Statue. 

historic Pennsylvania avenue, the sculptor thought the most fitting repre- 
sentation of Sherman was to picture him as, "on the happiest day of his 
life," he rode up the avenue, with a true military hearing, acknowledging 
the plaudits of the people. Rohl-Smith thought that Sherman on such 
an occasion would select a gentle animal, and has portrayed the man as 
having complete control over the horse, both the rider and his mount 
being at ease, perfectly understanding each other. 

The bas-reliefs are meant to suggest episodes from Sherman's life. 
The " March through Georgia " (on the north side) was found not to he 
so dangerous as feared in the North. The men are singing and somebodv 
calling out to " Uncle Billy," who is coming up from behind, accompanied 
by his staff — Dayton, McCoy, and Audenried — with Osterhaus farther out 
to the left, while the colored folks, hearing the clatter of the hoofs, have 
stepped outside their huts and with awe look at the spectacle, not exactly 
understanding the " cause." 

The " Battle of Atlanta," on the south side of the monument, is not so 
much intended to give the historical facts, which all know, as the sense of 
the battle witnessed from General Sherman's headquarters, so well 
described in his own memoirs. Hearing the cannonade, he and his staff 
are seen outside the Howard house, listening to what is going on in the 
distance. 

To give the effect of a scene 6 or 7 miles distant in a bas-relief is a diffi- 
cult undertaking, but Rohl-Smith has made the attempt in his endeavor 
to picture the Sixteenth Army Corps repulsing the attack of the opposing 
forces, thereby saving the army from defeat. Nothing but smoke can be 
seen from headquarters. McPherson has left a short while ago. Little 
do they expect that the escort which is Hearing (in the left corner of the 
bas-relief) shall be an escort for his body. Generals Howard and Schofield 
were for a short time with Sherman at headquarters, and Colonel Poe is 
seen giving information from a chart. 

" Sherman at the Campfire," on the west side, is a free conception after 
the words of Col. S. H. M. Byers in Some Personal Recollections of 
General Sherman: "While others slept his little campfire was burning, 
and often in the long vigils of the night I have seen a tall form walking 
up and down by that fire." And later: " It was a singularly impressive 
sight to see this solitary figure walking there by the flickering campfire 
while the army slept." 



The Statue. 29 

By "Missionary Ridge" on the east side is thought of the trying day 
when Sherman had his troops engaged from "dawn of day." He is 
seen waiting — waiting for signs of General Thomas moving on the center. 
His men are fighting on the hills in the Backgrounds. 

There are two groups, "War" and "Peace," one on each side of the 
monument. "War" is personified by a terrible woman who tramples 
humanity under feet, tearing all ties asunder, illustrating Sherman's 
words, "War is hell !" With her are vultures. 

" Peace " is showm as a young girl with a flowering branch of a fruit tree. 
At her feet we see at one side the strong taking care of the weak; at the 
other, the animals being fed — intended to give the ideal and the material 
side of life. 

To erect a monument in honor of this great commander without doing 
honor to his men would hardly be in the spirit of the man. Therefore 
there are medallions of his army and corps commanders: McPherson- 
Howard, Logan-Blair, Dodge-Ransom, and Grierson-Smith, and four sol- 
diers on watch around the monument. They represent Infantry, Cavalrv, 
Artillery, and Engineers, but Rohl-Smith was more interested in giving 
the different types of good American boys, which made up the army, 
believing that the uniforms were not the most essential features. 

The badge of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee is given on the 
south side, below the "Battle of Atlanta." 

The pedestal is built by the Harrison Granite Company, of New York, 
and the granite furnished by the Fletcher Granite Company, of Vermont. 

The site chosen for the monument presented difficulties, for it was 
made ground and water was discovered in the bottom. It was found 
necessary to sink piles to a depth of 35 feet below the original foundation, 
so that the depth of the foundation became deeper than the height above 
ground. For the additional foundation Congress appropriated the sum 
of nearly $10,000. 

By the time of Rohl-Smith 's death the monument was brought so far for- 
ward that the commission in charge of the work deemed it best to let his 
widow have it completed according to his plans and desires. The granite 
pedestal was set and paid for by the Government in the spring of 1900. Of 
the sculpture, the working model for the equestrian and the three full- 
sized soldiers were completed. The fourth was commenced in wax. The 
four bas-reliefs were nearly completed, and the armature for the colossal 



30 The Statue. 

equestrian was built, ready for the wax. The models for the groups 
"War" and "Peace" were carefully worked out in accordance with the 
monument. 

Lauritz Jensen, of Copenhagen, completed the colossal equestrian. He 
also put the final touches on the bas-reliefs and made the badge of the 
Army of the Tennessee. Sigvald Asbjornsen, of Chicago, completed the 
fourth soldier, and Mrs. Theo. A. Ruggles Kitson, of Boston, made the 
four double medallions. Stephen Sinding, of Copenhagen, started the 
groups "War" and "Peace" in Denmark, after having promised to bring 
them over and complete them in the United States. As they were about 
to be shipped he was taken ill, and sent Carl J. Bonnesen in his place. 
After having completed the group "Peace" he returned to Denmark, 
and Sigvald Asbjornsen completed the group "War." 

All the sculpture is cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company, Prov- 
idence, R. I. 

According to Rohl-Smith's desire, a band of mosaic is laid around the 
monument, 6 feet wide, with two low steps. In the mosaic is laid the 
names of all the battles in which Sherman took part. Congress appro- 
priated $8,000 for the mosaic, Mrs. Rohl-Smith made the design, and 
the National Mosaic Company, of Washington, D. C, has laid it. 

INSCRIPTIONS, EMBLEMS, AND BAS-RELIEFS. 

The following are the inscriptions, subjects of the bronze 
bas-reliefs, medallions, figures, and emblems on the pedestal 
and mosaic pavement around the base of the statue: 

[North.] 

WILLIAM TECUMSBH SHERMAN 

1820-1891 

Bas-relief — Sherman's March through Georgia 

" On no earthly account will I do any act or 

think any thought hostile to or in defiance 

of the Old Government of the United States" 

Alexandria, La., Jan. iSth, 1861. 

"War's Legitimate Object Is More 

Perfect Peace." 

Washington, I). C, Feby. 23rd, 1882 



The Statue. 31 

Inscriptions in the mosaic pavement at the base of the pedestal: 

" Gtiswoldville— Waynesboro— Fort McAllister -Capture of Savannah - 

Averasboro— Bentonville— Durham Station— .Surrender of Johnston's 

Army." 
Bronze figures northeast angle of base: "Artillery" 
Bronze figures northwest angle of base: "Infantry." 
[East.] 
Allegorical group "Peace." 
Bas-relief "Battle of Missionary Ridge." 
Medallions north side of bas-relief: 
McPherson. 
Howard. 
South side of bas-relief: 
Grierson. 
A. J. .Smith. 
Bronze figures northeast angle: "Artillery." 
Bronze figures southeast angle: "Cavalry." 
Mosaic pavement around the base — inscriptions: 
"Kenesaw Mountain— Ruff's Mill— Peach Tree Creek— Atlanta- 
Ezra Church— Utoy Creek— Jonesboro— Capture of Atlanta— Allatoona. " 

[South.] 

Seminole War, 1840-1842 

War in Mexico, 1S47-1S48 

Occupation of California 

Civil war, 1861-1865 

General commanding 

the Army of the United .States 

1869-1S84 

Bas-relief: "The Battle of Atlanta." 

Spread eagle in bronze with 

shield on breast 

1 /cartridge box\ 3« 
\ 40 rounds / 

Erected by the 

Society of the Army of the Tennessee 

with the aid of 



"Should be 1-5 Sherman's corps command. 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 3 



32 The Statue. 



The Congress of the United States 

1903. 

Bronze figures southeast angle: " Cavalry." 

Bronze figures southwest angle: " Engineers." 

Mosaic pavement around the base — inscriptions: 

"Chattanooga — Ringgold — Missionary Ridge — Relief of Knoxville- 

Meridian Expedition — -Dalton — Resaca — New Hope Church — 

Dallas — Kulp's Farm." 

[West.] 

Allegorical group "War" 
Bas-relief " Sherman in camp at night." 
Medallions north side of bas-relief: 
Blair 
Logan 
South side of bas-relief: 
Ransom 
Dodge 
Bronze figures northwest angle: " Infantry" 
Bronze figures southwest angle: " Engineers." 
Mosaic pavement around the base — inscriptions: 
"Bull Run — Shiloh— Corinth— Chickasaw Bluffs- 
Arkansas Post — Steeles Bayou — Jackson — Vicksburg — Colliersville. ' 



S. Doc. 320—58-2. 




THE SHERMAN MONUMENT. 

Plan of stands and court during the ceremonies of unveiling, October 15, 1903. 



THE ARRANGEMENTS. 



In every respect the preparations were on a scale and in 
design in entire harmony with the memorial character of the 
event and the fame of the subject of commemoration. 



THE STANDS. 



The arrangement of the stands afforded an admirable view 
of the statue and entire proceedings, and being within hearing 
distance of the speakers the assemblage possessed a decided 
advantage over previous occasions of a similar character. The 
grand stand (white) extended across the north side of the 
inclosure facing south, the front of the statue, for the accom- 
modation of the President and official and nonofficial guests. 

The right or west stand (blue) faced obliquely to the north- 
east, looking toward the President's seat, and was arranged in 
eight divisions for the use of the societies of the Armies of the 
Tennessee and Cumberland. The left or east (red) stand, also 
in eight divisions, faced obliquely to the northwest toward the 
grand stand and was set apart for the societies of the Armies 
of the Potomac and Ohio. At the foot of the western half of 
the front of the grand stand were seats and tables for the press 
and a Western Union telegraph operator, wires having been 
connected with the main office. About 150 park settees for 
maimed soldiers of the civil war, in blue and white, were 
arranged obliquely facing inward along the eastern and western 
sides of the base of the statue. 



(33 



34 The Arrangements. 

The seating accommodations aggregated 2,400, viz., grand 
stand (north), 350; those on either side (east and west), each 
1,050; the park settees, about 500. 

THE FLAG DECORATIONS. 

The colors employed were national — red, white, and blue. 
The President's stand, being the center of attraction, was not 
only tastefully arrayed with an outside display of national flags, 
but within was entirely covered and draped in the ceiling and 
supports of the roof and sides and rear. In this were used 10 
large garrison flags, 25 post flags, 22 storm flags, 100 small 
camp-color flags, 563 yards of white cheese cloth in covering 
the ceiling and supports of the roof, and 275 yards of colored 
cheese cloth on the outer posts of the stand to conform with 
the flag decoration. Also a large number of smaller decorations, 
as eagles, shields, small silk flags, etc. The draping over the 
front, sides, and back was particularly effective. 

At either corner on the front was a corps flag. The part of 
the grand stand used by the President, Cabinet, and other noted 
guests was furnished in keeping with the surroundings, the 
President's seat being a large leather overstuffed armchair, and 
those of the members of the Cabinet, speakers, and other dis- 
tinguished guests golden oak leather cushioned. The floor 
was covered with Turkish rugs. Strips of carpet were placed 
on the steps to the stand and three aisles leading to the reserved 
seats. In the decoration of the wing stands 9 post flags were 
draped in front between the sections, and 9 storm flags and 9 
corps flags on staffs were flown over the front and back about 
the center of the seating sections with excellent effect. 

The statue was hidden behind 2 large garrison flags placed 
parallel to the sides, suspended by rings from a guide wire east 
and west and looped together at the top, front, and rear. The 



The Arrangements. 35 

loosing cord in front was arranged to disengage the flags at the 
top At the lower end for the time being hung a weighted 
cluster of flowers and ribbons. The figures at the four corners 
of the base were each wrapped in a post flag, so arranged as to 
be conveniently removed. 

FLORAL DISPLAY. 

The flower features were particularly elaborate and artistic. 
As a center piece rose the pedestal and surmounting statue 
with its draping of the national emblem. On the steps at each 
of the four sides leading up to the mosaic platform around the 
base stood at an incline a shield 6 feet high of red, white, and 
blue everlastings, with a border bearing its appropriate inscrip- 
tion— that on the north steps, Society of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee; east, Potomac; south, Ohio; west, Cumberland. At 
the foot of each shield lay two branches of palms, the stems 
crossed and fastened with ribbons. At the foot of each of the 
corner figures was a wreath of leaves 7 feet in diameter. 

Between the foot of each shield and these wreaths, and con- 
necting them, ran a festoon of laurel leaves 7 inches in diam- 
eter entirely around the mosaic platform. 

Against each corner, at the foot of the base, stood a wooden 
shield, hand painted in gold, 6 feet high, each emblazoned 
with the arms of one of the four societies-northeast, Potomac; 
southeast, Ohio; southwest, Cumberland; northwest, Tennes- 
see. These shields were united by an inner line of festoons of 
galox leaves, forming a semicircle, from corner to corner, 
passing around by the top of the floral shields first mentioned, 
being caught with floral knots. The total length of these fes- 
toons was about 400 feet." 

and grounds and the floral shields, festoons, etc., were furnished by A. Gude & Co., 
florists, Washington, D. C 



36 The Arrangements. 

INVITATIONS. 

Under the direction of Col. T. W. Symons, circulars of request 
for lists of officers of the various branches of the Government 
and others proper to be invited were issued. Based upon the 
schedules of names officially reported in reply, 2,171 invitations 
were distributed. 

In order to avoid the confusion hitherto attending similar 
occasions, the invitation card embodied the name of the guest, 
as follows: 

FORM OF INVITATION. 

The Sherman Statue Commission 
requests the honor of the presence of 

at the unveiling of the Statue of 

General William Tecumseh Sherman 

at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fifteenth Street, N. W. 

October Fifteenth, nineteen hundred and three 

at two thirtv o'clock. 



Commission 

Major Genl. Grenville M. Dodge, President, Society Arm}' of the Tennessee. 

Hon. Robert Shaw Oliver, Acting Secretary of War. 

Lieut. Genl. S. B. M. Young, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army. 

Colonel Thomas W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, 

in charge of Monument and Ceremonies. 

FORM OF REQUEST FOR REPLA'. 

The favor of a reply is requested 

addressed to 

Colonel T. W. Symons, 

V. S. Army, Washington, D. C. 

These were inclosed in an envelope officially marked— - 

OFFICE OF 

THE SHERMAN STATUE COMMISSION 

I729 NEW YORK AVENUE, 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

1 Superscription.) 
(Address.) 



The Arrangements. 37 

The result was eminently satisfactory, each guest being pro- 
vided with a correctly assigned seat, and practically all seats 
being occupied. Others were debarred from occupying places 
during the unseemly rushes which had so often marred the 
dignity and comfort of public ceremonies of this character. 

As data for future reference it should be said that from the 
2,171 invitations issued 1,600 replies were received, of which 
about 1,100 were acceptances. The invitations were mailed to 
their respective superscriptions about three weeks in advance 
of the event. A check list of acceptances and declinations and 
those not responded to was kept. Upon the acceptance list 
tickets to the stands were classified and issued so as to bring 
together in a bod}- the official group, organization, or society in 
the particular section assigned to it. As far as possible in the 
arrangement of sections the usual order of precedence was 
observed, the President's stand naturally being the post of 
honor and the objective point from which the entire system was 
arranged. 

In connection with the specific lists, blank invitations aggre- 
gating 750 were given to the societies of the four armies with 
which General Sherman had been associated — of the Tennessee, 
of the Cumberland, of the Ohio, and of the Potomac — for distri- 
bution among their visiting comrades. 

TICKETS. 

With an authoritative list of acceptances classified and an 
arrangement of seats to correspond, of which there was a work- 
ing plan exhibiting seat numbers to correspond with ticket 
numbers, the placing of holders of invitations was rapid and 
convenient. The seat tickets, in small envelopes, contained the 
name of the stand, the number and location being inserted in 
red ink on the typewritten list. By this means it was also 






3§ 



The Arrangements. 



possible to locate certain guests or to issue duplicates of the 
same ticket, with a check upon any further attempt on the 
same seat. 

ADMISSION TICKETS FORM. 



Ticket. 
Sec. North (East or West ) 
Stand No.- 



Coupon 
No.— 



Admit Bearer 
to the 
Unveiling Ceremonies 
of the 
Sherman Statue. 
Guests should be in their seats by 2 P. M. 
in order to see the parade and review be- 
fore the unveiling ceremonies. 



EAST 
STAND 



Washington, D. C, Oct. 15th, 1903. 



Colors. 
North Stand (The President's). 



East Stand. 



West Stand. 



Sec. 

White. 
(The President, Commission, Diplo- 
matic Corps, Senators, Represent- 
atives, and other guests. ) 

Red. 

(Societies of the Armies of the Ohio 
and Potomac. ) 

Blue. 
(Societies of the Tennessee and the 
Cumberland. ) 



An overflow ticket (green) was issued for south entrance, 
east and west, admitting only after the parade and review. 
Seats on park settees on the court were provided. 



POLICE ARRANGEMENTS. 

In order to facilitate the movement of the military and naval 
parade, and to maintain peace and order in connection with the 
exercises, ample details of officers, mounted men, and privates 
of the Metropolitan force, with careful instructions, were 
stationed along the route of parade, clearing the streets from 



The Arrangements. 39 

curb to curb, and near the stands, with directions to regulate 
the arrival and departure of carriages according to the circular 
of rules, to keep the areas inside of the ropes about the statue 
space clear of obstructions or intrusion, and to maintain a 
clear space of at least 20 feet on either side for the entrance 
and departure of the distinguished guests from the White 
House; also to keep the avenues south clear of vehicles, and 
regulate the arrival and departure of such as are permitted to 
enter. It was specially noted that persons having a white, 
red, blue, or green ticket with section and stand noted thereon, 
as per samples, were to be admitted to all inclosures. It was 
also required to exercise care in properly directing and assisting 
all persons having tickets. A patrol wagon and ambulance 
were in readiness. Members of the force, except along route 
of parade, appeared in sack coats and white gloves. 

carriage; regulations. 

The rules to be observed by carriages in attendance at the 
ceremonies were equally successful, as follows: 

All carriages entered from the north by way of east Bxecu- 
tive avenue, between the Treasury building and the White 
House, and the occupants were required to exhibit their tickets, 
admitting them to the reviewing stands, to the policemen 
stationed at the head of this avenue. 

Carriages then proceeded down this avenue to the reviewing 
stands, leaving their occupants at the southwest corner of the 
Treasury building. 

No carriages were permitted to enter the roadway between 
the Treasury building and the reviewing stands, passengers 
being obliged to be left at the point designated. 

After leaving passengers carriages continued on the road- 
way, following the iron fence south of the White House to 



4-0 The Arrangements. 

Pennsylvania avenue by the way of west Executive avenue, 
between the State, War, and Navy building and the Executive 
office building, and were parked in east Executive avenue, one 
line on each side of the street, standing lengthwise as far down 
as a point opposite the south end of the Treasury building and 
on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue adjoining Lafayette 
Park. 

After the President and his party left the stand and entered 
the White House grounds upon the completion of the cere- 
monies, carriages were admitted to approach the reviewing 
stands for occupants and load on both .sides of the street at 
same point where passengers were deposited, and after loading 
proceeded by the same route to Pennsylvania avenue as for- 
merly, thus keeping the carriages traveling in one direction. 

Carriages were not permitted to stop at the place where un- 
loaded any longer than absolutely necessary to leave occupants. 

It was urgently requested that all carriages arrive and be out 
of the way by 2. 15 so as not to interfere with the parade. 

From 2.30 until the time the President and his party left 
the stand no carriage was allowed to cross the roadway opposite 
the southeast gate of the White House grounds. 

Any of the guests leaving the stand before the completion of 
the ceremonies were able to find their carriages in east Execu- 
tive avenue or Pennsylvania avenue, where parked as directed 
above. 

THE GUESTS. 

The following guests occupied the President's box: 
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt. 
The Cabinet and Secretary to the President 
The Statue Commission. 
The speakers. 



The Arrangements. 41 

The clergymen officiating. 

The Assistant Secretary to the President. 

Mrs. Sara Rohl-Smith, widow of the sculptor, Mr. 
Peter Suhr. 

Col. Thomas W. Symons, U. S. Army, Engineer in 
charge of Monument and unveiling ceremonies, aid to 
the President. 

Capt. William S. Cowles, U. S. Navy, aid to the Presi- 
dent. 

Master William Tecumseh v Sherman Thorndike, grand- 
son of General Sherman. 

The remaining sections of the President's stand were occu- 
pied by the Diplomatic Corps, Senators and Representatives, 
the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court of the 
United States, military, naval, and marine officers of general 
rank, and the higher civil officers of the three coordinate 
branches of the Government and others of suitable rank, 
governors of States and Territories and United States 
dependencies. 

The east stand (red) was occupied by veterans of the — 
Society of the Army of the Potomac. — Gen. John R. Brooke, 
president; Col. William P. Fox, corresponding secretary; Col. 
Horatio C. King, recording secretary; Lieut. Frank S. Halliday, 
treasurer. 

Society of t lie Army of the Ohio. — Lieut. Gen. J. M. Schofield, 
president; Maj. J. F. Stewart, treasurer; Capt. George Redway, 
first vice-president; Prof. J. Fraise Richard, secretary and his- 
torian. 

The west stand (blue) was occupied by veterans of the — 
Society of the Army of the Tennessee. — Gen. Grenville M. 
Dodge, president; Maj. A. M. Van Dyke, treasurer; Gen. 



42 The Arrangements. 

Andrew Hickenlooper, corresponding secretary; Col. Cornelius 
Cadle, recording secretary. 

Society of the Army of the Cumberland. — Gen. H. V. Boynton, 
president; Gen. Frank G. Smith, treasurer; Maj. John Twee- 
dale, U. S. Army, corresponding secretary; Col. J. W. Steele, 
recording secretary; Col. G. C. Kniffin, historian. 

Settees at the base of the statue were occupied by maimed 
soldiers of the civil war. 

SEATING OF THE GUESTS. 

The guests as they arrived were promptly shown to their 
places by a reception committee of forty-three gentlemen who 
had previously acquainted themselves with their duties and the 
location of seats. Although the number to be seated was 
several thousand, this usually confusing feature of great public 
occasions was not in the least in evidence. 

ARRIVAL OF THE PRESIDENT. 

The President having left the White House as previously 
arranged, accompanied by the Cabinet and his two aids, 
walked through the south park to the southeast gate. At 
this point a detachment of the First Regiment, Minute Men 
(Continentals), of Washington, D. C, Colonel Winter, com- 
manding, received him at salute. Then in platoon, as a van- 
guard of honor and advancing, the procession moved in the 
following order: Col. T. W. Symons, Corps Engineers, U. S. 
Army, in charge of monument and ceremonies, and Capt. 
W. S. Cowles, U. S. Navy; the President and General 
Dodge, president .of the Society of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee and presiding officer; Secretaries Hay and Shaw; 
Acting Secretary Oliver and Attorney-General Knox; Post- 
master-General Payne and Secretary Moody; Secretaries 



The Arraiigements. 43 

Hitchcock and Wilson; Secretary Cortelyou and the Secre- 
tary to the President. Rear guard of honor, Commander 
Kimball and staff, Department of the Potomac, Grand Army 
of the Republic. 

The route of march was along the drive south of the 
Treasury Department to the east end of the grand stand, 
thence turning south and then west along the front. As 
the President approached and ascended to the platform the 
Minute Men stood at salute, the United States Marine band 
at the north base of the monument played "Hail to the 
Chief," and the assemblage rose with great cheering. As 
the President took his seat the "President's flag" was flown 
from the peak of the staff on the top of the grand stand. 



S. Doc. 320—58-2 







rf>^*T2*--V' 



LIEUT. GEN. S. B. M. YOUNG, GRAND MARSHAL, LEADING COLUMN IN REVIEW. 



8. Doc. 320-68 




DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD PASSING IN REVIEW BEFORE THE PRESIDENT. 



THE PARADE. 



A PAGEANT OF WAR. 



The military and naval pageant was restricted to the United 
States forces, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, stationed in the 
vicinity of Washington, and the National Guard of the District 
of Columbia, under command of Lieut. Gen. S. B. M. Young. 

The display was exceptionally fine. In order, discipline, and 
array it would undoubtedly have received generous approval 
from our hero himself, one of the greatest of disciplinarians, had 
he been present in flesh as he manifestly was in spirit. 

PARADE FORMATION. 

The orders for the military and naval parade were published 
for the information and guidance of all concerned in General 
Orders, No. i, Headquarters of the Grand Marshal, War De- 
partment, Washington, October 8, 1903, the organization being 
as follows: 

Lieut. Gen. S. B. M. Young, U. S. Army, grand marshal. 
Brig. Gen. W. H. Carter, U. S. Army, chief of staff. 
Col. William P. Hall, Adjutant-General's Department, U. S. Army, 
Adjutant-General. 

FIRST DIVISION. 

Col. Winfield S. Edgerly, Second U. S. Cavalry, marshal. 
Second Battalion of Engineers, U. S. Army. 

Thirty-seventh, Forty-fourth, and One hundred and fourth Companies 
Coast Artillery, U. S. Army. 

(45) 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 4 



46 The Parade. 

Second Squadron, Second Cavalry, U. S. Army. 

Fourth Field Battery, U. S. Army. 

Detachment of Hospital Corps, U. S. Army ( Fort Myer, Va. ). 

Battalion United States Marines. 

Two battalions United States seamen. 

SECOND DIVISION. 

Brig. Gen. George H. Harries, National Guard, District of Columbia, 
marshal. 

Second Regiment, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

First Regiment, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

First Separate Battalion, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

Signal Corps, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

Naval Battalion, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

First Battery Field Artillery, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

Ambulance Corps, National Guard, District of Columbia. 

II. Dress uniforms worn. 

III. (Denning location of rendezvous positions of first division.) 

IV. (The same for second division. ) 

V. Organizations reported by their commanding officers to the marshals 
of the respective divisions. 

VI. The column to move at 2.30 p. m. The units to enter the column 
in the sequence stated in Paragraph I of this order. 

VII. The inarch at full distance guide right. 

VIII. The route of march south on Sixteenth street to H street, east on 
H street to Fifteenth street, south on Fifteenth street to Pennsylvania 
avenue, west to marker. The platoons to successively execute "fours 
left" as they arrive opposite the marker, enter the dedication grounds, 
execute "fours right," march past the reviewing stand in line; leave the 
ground by executing "fours right " and remain in columns of fours for the 
remainder of the route west to Executive avenue, then south about 300 
yards, then east toward Fifteenth street, changing direction to the north 
in time to place the battalions in columns of fours, side by side, with 5- 
yard intervals, facing north and heads resting at the southern border of 
the dedication grounds. Cavalry and field artillery after passing in review 
to march toward B street and subsequently be massed in rear of the foot 
troops by the marshal of the first division. 

IX. In each division but one band to play at a time, alternating from 
head to rear of column. At the time of passing tbe reviewing stand bands 
to play as prescribed by drill regulations. 

X. The column reviewed by the President at the grand stand on the 
dedication grounds. 

XI. The Fourth Field Battery, U. S. Arm}', after passing in review to 
move to a position about 3C0 yards southwest of the statue and fire a salute 



The Parade. 47 

of 17 guns, beginning at the moment of unveiling of the statue, the com- 
manding officer being charged with the necessary arrangements. 

XII. After the conclusion of the exercises the organizations to withdraw 
by the most convenient routes, avoiding main thoroughfares. 

XIII. No organization to execute any change of formation during the 
entire march unless ordered by the grand marshal. 

HEAD COLUMN FORWARD. 

The column began to move promptly at 2 p. m. from its 
initial point on K street facing east, head at Sixteenth street 
NW. The units entered the column in the sequence given in 
parade formation, at full distance guide right, United States 
cavalry in column of platoons of three fours each, artillery in 
column of sections, foot troops in close column of platoons of 
sixteen files each, National Guard of the District of Columbia 
close column of platoons of sixteen files each, battery in column 
of sections. 

ROUTE OF MARCH. 

Moving over the following route: South on Sixteenth to H 
street, east on H street to Fifteenth street, south on Fifteenth 
street to Pennsylvania avenue, west to marker. 

IN REVIEW. 

Executing "fours left" as they arrived opposite the marker, 
where the column entered the dedication grounds, executing 
"fours right" marching in review before the President on the 
grand stand. 

THE PRESIDENT. 

The President, surrounded by a brilliant grouping of the 
highest officers of the three coordinate branches of the State, 
the ambassadors and plenipotentiaries or representatives of 
thirty-six governments, great and small, of the world, and 
military, naval, and marine officers of general rank, occupied 
the place of vantage overlooking the scene, receiving the salutes 
of each unit of organization as it marched by. 



48 The Parade. 

UNISON OF HARMONY AND STEP. 

After escorting the marines to their position in the line of 
the parade, the United States Marine Band, under its leader, 
Lieut. William H. Santelmann, occupied a place opposite to 
and facing the President's stand, where it rendered patriotic 
airs during the passing of the troops in review. 

At the approach of the battalions of marines the baud struck 
up "Semper Fidelis," a famous composition of Sousa when 
leader. 

At the conclusion of the review and immediately preceding 
the ceremonies the Marine Band played the always applauded 
"Sherman's March Through Georgia." 

PARADE REST. 

The troops left the grounds by executing "fours right," and 
and so moving according to the official order of march. Ap- 
proaching east toward Fifteenth street the column changed 
direction to the north in time to form battalions in columns of 
fours, side by side, with 5-yard intervals, facing north, and 
heads resting at the southern border of the dedication grounds. 
The cavalry and field artillerj' after review, carrying out orders, 
massed in the rear of the foot troops. 

In this position the troops remained until the conclusion of 
the exercises, when each organization withdrew by the most 
convenient route, avoiding main thoroughfares. 



THE DEDICATION. 



THE UNVEILING COMMISSION. 

Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, president Society Army of 
the Tennessee. 

Hon. Robert Shaw Oliver, Acting Secretary of War. 

Lieut. Gen. S. B. M. Young, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army. 

Col. Thomas W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, 
in charge of monument and ceremonies. 

ORDER OF EXERCISES. 

The dedication of the statue of Gen. W. T. Sherman took 
place according to the following programme: 

Ceremonies commenced at 2.30 p. m., Thursday, October 15, 
1903. 

Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, president of the Society of 
the Army of the Tennessee, presiding. 

Prayer by Rev. D. J. Stafford, of Washington, D. C. 

Reading of brief history and description of the statue by the 
presiding officer. 

Unveiling of the statue by William Tecumseh Sherman 
Thorndike, General Sherman's grandson. 

(At the moment of the unveiling a general salute was fired 
by the Fourth Field Battery, U. S. Artillery. The Marine 
Band played the Star Spangled Banner. ) 

Address by the President of the United States. 

(49) 



50 The Dedication. 

Oration by Col. D. B. Henderson, of the Army of the 
Tennessee. 

Address by Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, of the Army of the 
Potomac. 

Address by Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor, of the Army of the 
Cumberland. 

Address by Gen. Thomas J. Henderson, of the Army of the 
Ohio. 

Benediction by Right Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, Bishop of 
Washington. 

CALLED TO ORDER. 

The presiding officer, Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, at 2.30 
p. m. called the vast assemblage to order. In recognition of 
his conspicuous sendees in the promotion of the memorial, from 
its inception in 1891 to its splendid consummation before him, 
he was received with the most generous greetings. He then 
announced Rev. D. J. Stafford, of St. Patrick's (R. C.) Church, 
who in invocation of the favor of the Lord of Hosts upon the 
ceremonies about to begin, said: 

THE INVOCATION. 

Almighty and Everlasting God, Father of all nations, look 
down upon us and bless us ! Upon this happy day we lift 
our hearts to Thee in gratitude. We thank Thee for the 
unparalleled progress of more than an hundred years, by 
which Thou hast distinguished us among the nations of the 
earth. We thank Thee for our glorious history, our boundless 
resources, our riches, our treasures, our great liberty. We 
thank Thee that in the hour of trial Thou didst raise up able 
leaders for Thy people — leaders who by courage, ability, and 
sacrifice saved the nation. Give us the grace to perpetuate 
the memory of great men, not only in monuments of stone and 



The Dedication. 



5i 



brass, but still more in our hearts, by the emulation of their 
example and the imitation of their virtues. By them Thou 
didst save the Union, the Union one and indissoluble, and by 
Thy protection — invincible forever. Give us the grace, oh, 
God ! above all to know Thee and love Thee. 



INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 



Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, president of the Society of 
the Army of the Tennessee, describing the statue and giving a 
retrospect of its history, said: 

I will give a brief description of the statue. At the time of 
the death of General Sherman he was president of the Society 
of the Army of the Tennessee. That society immediately 
resolved to erect in Washington a suitable memorial to its great 
commander, and, with the aid of Congress, has given you this 
splendid, life-like work of art. 

Immediately after the great review of all the armies in Wash- 
ington, General Sherman went to his home in St. Louis. At 
that time I was in command of that department, and in describ- 
ing this review to me General Sherman said that he had wit- 
nessed the march of that magnificent and splendidly equipped 
Army of the Potomac, and felt a great desire that his army 
should make as creditable an appearance. After the review of 
the first day he returned to his command across the Potomac and 
called around him his commanding officers and told them what 
he had witnessed, urging upon them the necessity of their 
making known to their commands the necessity for them to 
brush up and put forth their best efforts in conduct and 
marching the next day. As he rode at the head of his col- 
umn up Pennsylvania avenue, when he reached the rise near 
the Treasury Department he turned and looked down the 
Avenue and saw his old army coming, with their old spirit, 

(53) 



54 Introductory Address. 

energy, and swing, and was satisfied they would do their best; 
and he believed it was the happiest and most satisfactory 
moment of his life. The crowd seemed to appreciate his 
thoughts, and welcomed him with a great ovation. The 
sculptor, Carl Rohl-Smith, has endeavored to present General 
Sherman in bronze as he appeared at that moment, and you 
can all appreciate how ably and satisfactorily he has accom- 
plished his work. 

The two allegorical figures represent "War" and "Peace," 
the effects of which probably no general officer more emphat- 
ically enforced than General Sherman. 

The bas-reliefs represent on the north front the ' ' march to 
the sea," on the east front Sherman at Chattanooga attacking 
Bragg's right, on the south front the battle of Atlanta on July 
22, the greatest battle of the campaign, and on the west front 
Sherman as many of us saw him, at midnight, walking before 
the campfire, with hands clasped behind him, in deep thought, 
while everything around was sleeping. This is so characteristic 
that all who served under Sherman will appreciate it. He 
once said to me that we little knew how many anxious hours he 
passed in pacing in front of his tent in thought and planning 
while we were quietly sleeping. 

The medalions represent the army and corps commanders of 
the Army of the Tennessee who served under Sherman. They 
are McPherson and Howard, Logan and Blair, Smith and Grier- 
son, Ransom and Dodge. 

The four arms of the service, engineers, cavalry, artillery, 
and infantry, are each represented by a soldier as he appeared 
in a campaign. 

The mosaic walk surrounding the monument has in it the 
names of the principal battles in which General Sherman was 
engaged. 



Introductory Address. 55 

It was a great misfortune that the sculptor, Carl Rohl-Smith, 
died with his work only half completed, but it was a very fortu- 
nate circumstance that his wife, Mrs. Sara Rohl-Smith, who is 
present to-day, could take up his work where he left it and 
carry it to so successful a completion, and on behalf of the 
commission and of the societies of the four great armies here 
present, and I know of all others who have seen this great work 
of art, I wish to extend to her our hearty thanks and appre- 
ciation of the great success she has achieved in the efficient and 
satisfactory manner in which this national statue has been com- 
pleted. 

The commission, through the courtesy of the United States 
minister, has placed upon the tomb of Carl Rohl-Smith, in 
Copenhagen, Denmark, at this moment a suitable floral tribute 
to his memory, and in testimony of its appreciation of his great 
work." 

a The following press dispatch appeared in the newspapers of Washington issjued on 
the afternoon of the ceremonies: "Copenhagen, October 15, 1903. Simultaneously 
with the unveiling of the equestrian statue of Gen. William T. Sherman at Washing- 
ton, D. C, to-day, United States Minister Swanson, by direction of the State Depart- 
ment, placed a wreath, bound with the Danish and American colors, on the tomb of 
Carl Rohl-Smith, the Danish-American sculptor who designed the monument. 

"Among those present were .Stephen Sinding, the Danish sculptor who completed 
Rohl-Smith's work; General Christensen, of Brooklyn, General Sherman's intimate 
friend, and the United States consul. Mr. Swanson made a brief speech." 



SHERMAN IN ART. 



During the remarks of General Dodge, Master William 
Tecumseh Sherman Thorndike, grandson of General Sherman, 
who had been standing by his side, descended from the grand 
stand and, proceeding across the open area in front, took a seat 
at the base of the northeast angle of the statue. 

At the conclusion of his address the presiding officer declared, 
' ' The statue will now be unveiled. ' ' 

The cord, to which was appended a weighted bouquet, being 
passed into his hand, Master Thorndike, by a simple movement 
of the arm, unloosed the enveloping flags. 

HONORS. 

The moment the signal was given, and the national colors 
parted, the United States Marine Band struck up "The Star 
Spangled Banner," and the Fourth Field Battery, United States 
Army, in position about 300 yards southwest of the statue, 
fired a general's salute of seventeen guns, trumpets sounding 
three flourishes, drums beating three ruffles, and the assem- 
blage cheering vociferously. 

(57) 



;-. Doc. 320—58-2. 




THE STATUE VEILED. 



S. Dnc. 320—58-2. 




THE STATUE VEILED. 



^ 



S. Doc. 320—58-2. 




THE STATUE UNVEILED. 



S. Dop. 320—58-2. 




WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN THORNDIKE, GRANDSON OF GENERAL SHERMAN, 
WHO PULLED THE UNVEILING CORD. 



THE UNVEILING. 



A PANORAMIC VIEW. 

The illustrations show the various stages of the unveiling: ' 

No. i. Statue veiled. 

No. 2. Statue unveiled. 

No. 3. Bird's-eye view of court. 

No. 4. William Teeumseh Sherman Thorndike. 

From the unveiling of the ' ' Equestrian ' ' Master Thorndike 
stepped to the bronze figure on the northeast, where, throwing 
open a corner of the enveloping flag, two veterans stepped for- 
ward and finished the uncovering, folding the flag and placing 
it at the foot of the figure. The same ceremony was done at 
each of the three remaining figures, 'going south, west, and 
north. Master Thorndike, having performed his part in the 
ceremony with a deliberation worth}- of his great ancestor, took 
up his hat and bouquet, and, returning to the grand stand, pre- 
sented the flowers to the President, who, much touched by the 
neatness of the compliment, expressed his most feeling thanks. 
When the President left the grand stand to return to the White 
House he carried the bouquet with him as a souvenir of the 
event. 

(59) 



SHERMAN IN ORATORY. 



THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED. 

The presiding officer then presented the President of the 
United States, who was greeted with tumultuous applause, a 
fanfare of trumpets, and drum ruffles, the troops standing at 
present and the vast concourse rising. 

(61) 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 5 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



To-day we meet together to do honor to the memory of one 
of the great men whom, in the hour of her agony, our nation 
brought forth for her preservation. The civil war was not 
only in the importance of the issues at stake and of the out- 
come the greatest of modern times, but it w r as also, taking into 
account its duration, the severity of the fighting, and the size 
of the armies engaged, the greatest since the close of the 
Napoleonic struggles. Among the generals who rose to high 
position as leaders of the various armies in the field are many 
who will be remembered in our history as long as this history 
itself is remembered. Sheridan, the incarnation of fiery energy 
and prowess; Thomas, farsighted, cool-headed, whose steadfast 
courage burned ever highest in the supreme moment of the 
crisis; McClellan, with his extraordinary gift for organization; 
Meade, victor in one of the decisive battles of all time; Han- 
cock, type of the true fighting man among the Regulars; 
L,ogan, type of the true fighting man among the Volunteers — 
the names of these and of many others will endure so long as 
our people hold sacred the memory of the fight for union and 
for liberty. High among these chiefs rise the figures of Grant 
and of Grant's great lieutenant, Sherman, whose statue here 
in the national capital is to-day to be unveiled. It is not 
necessary here to go over the long roll of Sherman's mighty 
feats. They are written large throughout the history of the 
civil war. Our memories would be poor indeed if we did not 
recall them now, as we look along Pennsylvania avenue and 

(63) 



64 The President"* s Address. 

think of the great triumphal march which surged down its 
length when, at the close of the war, the victorious armies of 
the East and of the West met here in the capital of the nation 
they had saved. 

There is a peculiar fitness in commemorating the great deeds 
of the soldiers who preserved this nation by suitable monu- 
ments at the national capital. I trust we shall soon have a 
proper statue of Abraham Lincoln, to whom, more than to an- 
other one man, this nation owes its salvation. Meanwhile, on 
behalf of the people of the nation, I wish to congratulate all 
of you who have been instrumental in securing the erection of 
this statue to General Sherman. 

The living can best show their respect for the memory of the 
great dead by the way in which they take to heart and act 
upon the lessons taught by the lives which made these dead 
men great. Our homage to-day to the memory of Sherman 
comes from the depths of our being. We would be unworthy 
citizens did we not feel profound gratitude toward him, and 
those like him and under him, who, when the country called in 
her dire need, sprang forward with such gallant eagerness to 
answer that call. Their blood and their toil, their endurance 
and patriotism, have made us and all who come after us 
forever their debtors. They left us not merely a reunited 
country, but a country incalculably greater because of its rich 
heritage in the deeds which thus left it reunited. As a nation 
we are the greater, not only for the valor and devotion to duty 
displayed by the men in blue, who won in the great struggle 
for the Union, but also for the valor and the loyalty toward 
what they regarded as right of the men in gray; for this war, 
thrice fortunate above all other recent wars in its outcome, left 
to all of us the right of brotherhood alike with valiant victor 
and valiant vanquished. 



The Presidents Address. 65 

Moreover, our homage must not only find expression on our 
lips; it must also show itself forth in our deeds. It is a great 
and glorious thing for a nation to be stirred to present triumph 
by the splendid memories of triumphs in the past. But it is a 
shameful thing for a nation if these memories stir it only to 
empty boastings, to a pride that does not shrink from present 
abasement, to that self-satisfaction which accepts the high 
resolve and unbending effort of the father as an excuse for 
effortless ease or wrongly directed effort in the son. We of the 
present, if we are true to the past, must show by our lives that 
we have learned aright the lessons taught hy the men who did 
the mighty deeds of the past. We must have in us the spirit 
which made the men of the civil war what they were; the 
spirit which produced leaders such as Sherman; the spirit 
which gave to the average soldier the grim tenacity and re- 
sourcefulness that made the armies of Grant and Sherman as 
formidable fighting machines as this world has ever seen. We 
need their ruggedness of body, their keen and vigorous minds, 
and above all their dominant quality of forceful character. 
Their lives teach us in our own lives to strive after not the 
thing which is merely pleasant, but the thing which it is our 
duty to do. The life of duty, not the life of mere ease or mere 
pleasure, that is the kind of life which makes the great man as 
it makes the great nation. 

We can not afford to lose the virtues which made the 
men of '61 to '65 great in war. No man is warranted in 
feeling pride in the deeds of the Army and Navy of the 
past if he does not back up the Army and the Navy of the 
present. If we are farsighted in our patriotism there will 
be no let up in the work of building and of keeping at the 
highest point of efficiency a navy suited to the part the 
United States must hereafter play in the world, and of 



66 The Presidents Address. 

making and keeping our small Regular Arm}-, which in the 
event of a great war can never be anything but the nucleus 
around which our volunteer armies must form themselves, 
the best army of its size to be found among the nations. 

So much for our duties in keeping unstained the honor roll 
our fathers made in war. It is of even more instant need that 
we should show their spirit of patriotism in the affairs of peace. 
The duties of peace are with us always; those of war are but 
occasional; and with a nation as with a man, the worthiness of 
life depends upon the way in which the everyday duties are 
done. The home duties are the vital duties. The nation is 
nothing but the aggregate of the families within its border; and 
if the average man is not hard-working, just, and fearless in his 
dealings with those about him, then our average of public life 
will in the end be low, for the stream can rise no higher than 
its source. But in addition we need to remember that a peculiar 
responsibility rests upon the man in public life. We meet in 
the capital of the nation, in the city which owes its existence to 
the fact that it is the seat of the National Government. It is 
well for us in this place, and at this time, to remember that 
exactly as there are certain homely qualities the lack of which 
will prevent the most brilliant man alive from being a useful 
soldier to his country, so there are certain homely qualities for 
the lack of which in the public servant no shrewdness or ability 
can atone. The greatest leaders, whether in war or in peace, 
must of course show a peculiar quality of genius; but the most 
redoubtable armies that have ever existed have been redoubt- 
able because the average soldier, the average officer, possessed 
to a high degree such comparatively simple qualities as loyalty, 
courage, and hardihood. And so the most successful govern- 
ments are those in which the average public servant possesses 
that variant of loyalty which we call patriotism, together with 



The President* s Address. 67 

common sense and honesty. We can as little afford to tolerate 
a dishonest man in the public service as a coward in the Army. 
The murderer takes a single life; the corruptionist in public 
life, whether he be bribe giver or bribe taker, strikes at the 
heart of the commonwealth. In every public service, as in 
ever)' arm}-, there will be wrongdoers, there will occur misdeeds. 
This can not be avoided; but vigilant watch must be kept, and 
as soon as discovered the wrongdoing must be stopped and the 
wrongdoers punished. Remember that in popular government 
we must rely on the people themselves, alike for the punishment 
and the reformation. Those upon whom our institutions cast 
the initial duty of bringing malefactors to the bar of justice 
must be diligent in its discharge; yet in the last resort the suc- 
cess of their efforts to purge the public service of corruption 
must depend upon the attitude of the courts and of the juries 
drawn from the people. Leadership is of avail only so far as 
there is wise and resolute public sentiment behind it. 

In the long run, then, it depends upon us ourselves, upon us 
the people as a whole, whether this Government is or is not to 
stand in the future as it has stood in the past; and my faith 
that it will show no falling off is based upon my faith in the 
character of our average citizenship. The one supreme duty is 
to try to keep this average high. To this end it is well to 
keep alive the memory of those men who are fit to serve as 
examples of what is loftiest and best in American citizenship. 
Such a man was General Sherman. To very few in any gen- 
eration is it given to render such services as he rendered; but 
each of us in his degree can try to show something of those 
qualities of character upon which, in their sum, the high worth 
of Sherman rested — his courage, his kindliness, his clean and 
simple living, his sturdy good sense, his manliness and tender- 
ness in the intimate relations of life, and, finally, his inflexible 



68 The President's Address. 

rectitude of soul and his loyalty to all that in this free Republic 
is hallowed and symbolized by the national flag. 

The presiding officer next called upon the orator of the dedi- 
cation, whose widespread soldierly, parliamentary, and forensic 
fame won salutations loud and long. When the enthusiasm 
died away he celebrated his part in the proceedings of the day 
as follows: 



S. Poc. 320—58-2. 




ORATION OF GENERAL HENDERSON, OF THE ARMY OF 
THE TENNESSEE. 



God is a nation maker. A nation! What is it? Or, rather, 
what is it not? 

There is not room on the bosom of our generous land to place 
the pedestals of the monuments we might erect. It takes so 
many things to make a nation. It takes wealth of soul, wealth 
of soil, and wealth of character. It takes an army of thinkers, 
with great, brave leaders. It takes men and women; those 
who can rest in a grave and those who can rest in bronze. 
It takes mountain ranges, oceans, and springs. It takes the 
Washington Monument, Bunker Hill, and the unmarked graves 
of the Republic. 

We could not be a great nation without the Declaration of 
Independence, the Federal Constitution, and the songs of 
Whittier and Longfellow. Our sighs are part of it; so are our 
dying groans. Washington and Arnold, Lincoln and Davis, 
Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan were builders; but so were 
John Brown and the drummer boy of Shiloh. 

Where can you place monuments to laughter, to sighs, to 
the flames of burning thought, and to all the joys and sorrows 
that follow in the wake of war? Let me see you build monu- 
ments to the perfumes of our fields and gardens. Where 
will you place the foundations of the fine sculpture to keep 
in memory and in marble or bronze the shouts and prayers, 
the loves, the tears, and the immortal glories of the emancipa- 
tion proclamation? 

(69) 



jo Oration of General Henderson. 

We can not omit Booth, Guiteau, Czolgosz, and the other 
horrid, damnable manifestations of national growth. But we 
can build monuments to our dear immortal dead, and this we 
are doing; and the nation grows. 

Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, in equestrian statue, 
is before us. With uncovered head he stands where he stood 
at the grand review. He was followed by the men who had 
on many a bloody field followed him in the face of death. 
Hear him, as he looks at the surging line coming from the 
Capitol: 

When I reached the Treasury building and looked back the sight was 
simply magnificent. The column was compact and the glittering muskets 
looked like a solid mass of steel, moving with the regularity of a 
penudulum. 

At this point the great sculptor, Carl Rohl-Smith, caught 
the inspiration of the moment and fashioned him in bronze for 
all time. 

It does not represent Sherman in battle. It is Sherman 
amid the well-won glories of peace. It is Sherman the peace- 
maker, receiving the thrilling, rapturous applause of the 
bronzed peacemakers of a saved republic. 

Statues come from great deeds, or great events, or great 
affections. The statues of the world are silent historians. 

Sherman first drew his sword at the battle of Bull Run, and 
never sheathed it until the sword of the rebellion was in pieces 
at his feet. 

The language of this statue tells what he fought for — peace. 

To recount his battles is to give a history of the civil war. 
On this occasion that will be impossible. 

He never drew his sword without drawing blood r.nd making 
permanent history. 

His ' ' March to the sea ' ' is generally regarded as his greatest 



Oration of General Henderson. yi 

campaign, but this is an error. It was a brilliant campaign — 

the world has so rated it — but it did not come up to the genius 

and grandeur of the campaign immediately following it, when 

he carried practically the same army from Savannah to North 

Carolina, an average distance of 450 miles. That was the 

greatest work of Sherman's life. 

But let us consider for a moment what President Lincoln said 

of the Atlanta campaign: 

Executive Mansion, 
Washington, I). C, September 3, /S6j. 
The national thanks are tendered by the President to Maj. Gen. Wil- 
liam Tucumseh Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of his 
command before Atlanta for the distinguished ability and perseverance 
displayed in the campaign in Georgia, which, under Divine fav;r, has re- 
sulted in the capture of Atlanta. The marches, battles, sieges, and other 
military operations that have signalized the campaign must render it fa- 
mous in the annals of war and have entitled those who have participated 
therein to the applause and thanks of the nation. 

Abraham Lincoln, 
President of the United States. 

And later note what Mr. Lincoln said of the " March to the 
sea" and capture of Savannah: 

Executive Mansion, - 
Washington, D. C, December 21 , 1864.. 
My Dear General Sherman: Many, many thanks for your Christ- 
mas gift — the capture of Savannah. When you were about leaving At- 
lanta for the Atlantic coast I was anxious, if not fearful, but, feeling that 
you were the better judge, and remembering "nothing risked, nothing 
gained," I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the 
honor is all yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce, 
and taking the work of General Thomas into account, as it should be 
taken, it is indeed a great success. Not only does it afford the obvious 
and important military advantages, but, in showing to the world that your 
army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new serv- 
ice, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old opposing force of the 
whole, Hood's army, it brings those who sat in darkness to see a great 
light. But what next? I suppose it will be safer that I leave General 
Grant and yourself to decide. 

A. Lincoln. 



j 2 Oration of General Henderson. 

FROM SAVANNAH TO GOLDSBORO. 

This letter of Mr. Lincoln's demonstrates that the march to 
the sea was the sole conception of General Sherman. 

The President asked, ' ' What next? ' ' Sherman lost no time 
in answering. As soon as he could reload his wagons he started 
from Savannah to attack General Johnston in the Carolinas. 
Here Sherman ran the risk of a combination between Lee and 
Johnston's armies — absolutely the only way to save the Confed- 
erate cause. 

Sherman, it may be said, violated a well-established principle 
of war by taking the exterior lines and leaving to Lee and John- 
ston the interior ones. Sherman had to depend almost entirely 
upon the country for his provisions. Undoubtedly a concentra- 
tion would have been ordered by Lee, but by that time he had 
learned to fear Grant, and he dreaded to run the risk of taking 
any considerable portion of his own army to send to Johnston. 
Thus he let slip the only possible chance of saving the Confed- 
erate cause. On this point General Sherman has said, speak- 
ing of General Lee: 

His sphere of action was, however, local. He never rose to the grand 
problem which involved a continent and future generations. His Virginia 
was to him the world. Though familiar with the geography of the inte- 
rior of the great continent, he stood like a stone wall to defend Virginia 
against the " Huns and Goths " of the North, and he did it like a valiant 
knight as he was. He stood at the front porch battling with the flames 
whilst the kitchen and house were burning, sure in the end to consume the 
whole. Only twice, at Antietam and Gettysburg, did he venture outside 
on the "offensive defensive." In the first instance he knew personally 
his antagonist and that a large fraction of his force would be held in 
reserve; in the last he assumed the bold " offensive," was badly beaten by 
Meade, and was forced to retreat back to Virginia. As an aggressive sol- 
dier Lee was not a success, and in war that is the true and proper test. 
"Nothing succeeds like success." In defending Virginia and Richmond 
he did all a man could, but to him Virginia seemed the " Confederacy," 
and he stayed there while the Northern armies at the West were gaining 



Oratioji of General Henderson. 73 

the Mississippi, the Tennessee, the Cumberland, Georgia, South and North 
Carolina, yea, the Roanoke, after which his military acumen taught him 
that further tarrying in Richmond was absolute suicide. 

His son, P. Tecumseh Sherman, under date of November 3, 

1902, wrote to me as follows: 

I told General Dodge that my father had always said that the extreme 
daring of that march had never been appreciated, and that General Lee 
had committed a grave error in letting him get through without making 
a concerted attempt to crush his army. 

****** * 

The responsibilities and risks of that winter march through the Caro- 
linas, with the possibility of having Lee and Johnston combined appearing 
any day in his front, were something enormous, and not now understood. 

In this connection let us note what one of General Sher- 
man's corps commanders, in his annual address to the Society 
of the Army of the Tennessee, said in regard to the campaign 
in the Carolinas. He speaks of it as — 

that bold movement from Savannah to Goldsboro, which is considered by 
the best critics as one of the boldest and best-planned campaigns of his- 
tory — one in which every chance was taken and every opportunity given 
the enemy to concentrate upon an inferior force. 

Here is what General Sherman himself said, in a resume of 
his campaigns: 

You can not attain great success in war without great risks. I admit 
we violated many of the old-established rules of war by cutting loose from 
our base and exposing 60,000 lives. I had faith in the army I commanded. 
That faith was well founded. Then came the last movement, which I do 
contend involved more labor and risk than anything which I have done 
or ever expect to do again. 

***** * * 

So we went to Goldsboro, and then I hastened to see Mr. Lincoln and 
Grant for the last time. We talked the matter over and agreed perfectly. 
Grant was moving then. I had been fifty-odd marching days on light 
rations. My men were shoeless and without pants, and needed clothing 
and rest. I hurried back to Goldsboro and dispatched everything with as 
great rapidity as I could, and on the very day I appointed I started in 
pursuit of Johnston, let him be where he might. 



74 Oration of General Henderson. 

Before commencing the North Carolina campaign General 
Sherman had planned for a convergence of all of his troops at 
Goldsboro, N. C. This would give him something over 80,000 
men in one army, after General Schofield joined him from 
Nashville. 

General Lee having failed to detach any of his Virginia 
troops to the aid of General Johnston, the latter was soon forced 
to surrender after some sharp fighting before a junction of 
Sherman's forces was effected, which, quickly following upon 
the surrender of Lee, practically terminated the war. 

General Sherman has said of this North Carolina campaign 
as follows: 

When I reached Goldsboro, made junction with Schofield, and moved 
forward to Raleigh, I was willing to encounter the entire Confederate 
army; but the Confederate armies — Lee's in Richmond and Johnston's 
in my front — held the interior lines and could choose the initiative. Few 
military critics who have treated of the civil war in America have ever 
comprehended the importance of the movement of my army northward 
from Savannah to Goldsboro, or of the transfer of Schofield from Nash- 
ville to cooperate with me ia North Carolina. Th!s march was like the 
thrust of a sword through the heart of a human body, each mile of which 
swept aside, all opposition, consumed the very food on which the army 
depended for life, and demonstrated a power in the National Government 
which was irresistible. 

To give some idea of the fighting I quote again from the 
General: 

At Rivers Bridge Generals Mower and Giles A. Smith led their heads 
of column through the swamp, the water being up to their shoulders, 
crossed over to the pine lands, turned upon the brigade which defended 
the passage, and routed it in utter disorder. 

Again, the General says: 

I honestly believe that the grand march of the western army from 
Atlanta to Savannah and from Savannah to Raleigh was an important 
factor in the final result of the thrilling victory at Appomattox and the 
glorious triumph of the Union cause. 



Oration of General Henderson. 75 

In summing up the Carolina campaign General Sherman 
says: 

Thus was concluded one of the longest and most important marches ever 
made by an organized army in a civilized country. The distance from 
Savannah to Goldsboro is 425 miles, and the route traversed embraced five 
large navigable rivers— namely, the Edisto, Broad, Catawba, Pedee, and 
Cape Fear — at each of which a comparatively small force well handled 
could have made the passage most difficult, if not impossible. 

Referring to the combination of forces at Goldsbpro, he says: 

Our combinations were such that General Schofield entered Goldsboro 
from Newbern; General Terry, with pontoons laid and a brigade, crossed 
the Neuse River intrenched, and we whipped Joseph Johnston all the same 
day. 

It is interesting to note as an evidence of the power of human 
endurance that the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and 
Twentieth Army Corps on the march to the sea and thence to 
the Carolinas marched an average of about 710 miles. 

I now quote the expressive words of our presiding officer, 
General Dodge, to show his appreciation of the campaign in the 
Carolinas: 

The patience, the firmness, the resolution with which he pursued his diffi- 
cult campaign against Johnston from Chattanooga to Atlanta constitute 
one of the finest achievements in history. The boldness of conception, 
the ingenuity of the plan, the accepting of desperate chances in giving 
Lee an opportunity to crush him in his campaign from Savannah 
to Goldsboro will forever give Sherman prestige as a bold, fearless, 
strategical commander. Upon that campaign alone I am willing to stake 
Sherman's reputation for all time. 

I 'have deemed it my duty to go somewhat extensively into 
the campaign from Savannah to Goldsboro, as Sherman's 
achievements in this part of the war have never been fully told 
or fully appreciated. 

It is difficult even now with the statue of this great military 
chieftain being unveiled in our nation's capital, in the pres- 
ence of our nation's Chief Executive, and with so many of our 



y6 Oration of General Henderson. 

nation's war-scarred heroes with us, to avoid the telling influ- 
ence of that heroic, thrilling song, "Marching Through 
Georgia. ' ' 

Passing from his great campaigns, let us consider the man, 
William Tecumseh Sherman. 

Elbert Hubbard, the art critic, says: "Small men are pro- 
vincial, mediocre men are cosmopolitan, but great souls are 
universal." General Sherman's soul was great — was uni- 
versal. Although a great military genius, his soul was clothed 
in simplicity. Subordination was the rule of his military life. 
Here I give his own words, and no one can give a single docu- 
ment to contradict them: 

I have never in my life questioned or disobeyed an order; though many 
and many a time have I risked my life, health, and reputation in obeying 
orders or even hints, and executing plans and purposes not to my liking. 

How many of you recall the fact that after General Sherman 
commanded a department in Kentucky he was sent to com- 
mand Benton Barracks, at St. Louis? It was simply part of a 
post. From there he was sent to Paducah. When Grant 
started up the Tennessee for the Donelson campaign, General 
Sherman had dropped from the command of an army to that 
of a post, and later a division. 

In February, 1862, he wrote to Grant: 

I should like to hear from you, and will do anything in my power to 
hurry forward to you reenforcements and supplies, and if I could be of 
any service would gladly come without making any question of rank with 
you and General Smith, whose commissions are under the same date. 

On the same day he wrote again: 

Command me in any way; I feel anxious about you, as I know the 
great facilities they (the enemy) have for concentration by means of 
rivers and railroads, but have faith in you. 

And this faith of Sherman in Grant, and I may say of 
Grant in Sherman, never weakened for a single moment, and 



Oration of General Henderson. Jj 

they fought like brothers from the beginning to the glorious 
ending stimulated by the sole motive of saving their country. 
He was strong in his utterances, we must admit, but it 
was because he felt so intensely for the safety of his coun- 
try. Writing on December 21, 1863, from Nashville, he 
said to Lincoln:. 

To secure the safety of the Mississippi River I would slay millions. 

This was not uttered because he was bloodthirsty, for he 
was not. But he felt that at any cost the country must be 
saved. 

Again, writing to General Halleck, he said: 

Received commission as brigadier-general in Regular Army. Prefer to 
command the Fifteenth Army Corps, but will accept any command Gen- 
eral Grant desires. 

And mark his letter of July 30, 1863, to General Parke: 

When you see Burnside give him my love, and tell him for me that we 
are arrayed against all the enemies of law and government— that we fire 
upon secessionists of the South, the autocrats of the North, and the anarch- 
ists everywhere. Our Government must govern and not be ruled by an 
agitator of the hour. 

He executed all orders given to him, and he expected the 
execution of all orders given by him. 

He held deep in his heart the old Army of the Tennes- 
see, but he loved devotedly, loyally, every officer and every 
soldier of the whole Union Army. 

He came of good stock. 

He tasted poverty in his childhood. 

His life was full of activity — intense activity. 

Conscientious, honest work was the rule of his life. 

His death touched us all gently, heroically, but when he 
had gone we felt that we had lost William Tecumseh Sher- 
man. Lost, it is true, but still now and evermore a remain- 
ing and deathless part of the great civil war. 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 6 



78 Oration of General Henderson. 

He was the truest type of a comrade. To him ' ' com- 
rade ' ' was a ' ' hoi} 7 name. ' ' 

He was president of the Society of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee. How tenderly we loved him! What an interest he 
took in all the work of the society! 

He held the respect and love of the Army. 

He held the respect and love of the people. 

There was a tenderness about him that endeared him to all. 
But, more than this, there was a frank, rugged honesty in the 
man that bound all hearts to him. He was not afraid of battle. 
Why? Because he was fighting for his country and not for his 
own glory. 

Could the living and the dead of the civil war unite in one 
voice they would say of Sherman: " He was a great man; he 
was a great soldier; he was a pure patriot." 

May this statue ever stand in our capital as a monument to 
American courage; as a monument to military education; as a 
monument to Americanism, combining the citizen and the 
soldier; as an inspiration to the ambitious young American; as 
a proof that the heroes of the Revolution and their deeds will 
never be forgotten or neglected by their descendants. 

L,et it ever stand as a peace monument for all of our people, 
and therefore it must stand as the monument of William 
Tecumseh Sherman. 

The historian can not record all of the deeds of Sherman. 
The sculptor is fettered at his task. The painter's colors can 
not reveal the whole man. The poet can only sing a little of 
the story of his life. The story of General Sherman's life is 
above oratory. It is beyond art. The hearts of his countrymen 
alone can tell the story. 



Oration of General Henderson. 79 

There is an heroic patriotism in his farewell address to his 
army. This much, in closing, I must give: 

How far the operations of this army contributed to the final overthrow 
of the Confederacy and the peace which now dawns upon us must be judged 
by others, not by us; but that you have done all that men could do has 
been admitted by those in authority, and we have a right to join in the uni- 
versal joy that fills our land because the war is over, and our Government 
stands vindicated before the world by the joint action of the volunteer 
armies and navies of the United States. 

******* 
Your general now bids you farewell, with the full belief that, as in war, 
you have been good soldiers, so in peace you will make good citizens. 

The presiding officer next presented Maj. Gen. Daniel E. 
Sickles, representing the Army of the Potomac. 



S. Pop. 320—58-2. 




GENERAL SICKLES'S ADDRESS. 



The Army of the Potomac, which I have the honor to 
represent here to-day, contributed something to the fame of 
General Sherman. We gave to Sherman our Hooker, 
Slocum, and Howard, and the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, 
afterwards consolidated into the Twentieth Army Corps, thus 
creating a tie of kinship between the great armies of the East 
and West. No warmer appreciation of Sherman's genius 
and achievements was heard, even in the ranks of the armies 
he commanded, than was voiced in the Army of the Potomac. 

It was the task of the Army of the Potomac to defend this 
capital, and to destroy and capture the superb army of Lee, 
which so often menaced Washington. It was Sherman's 
mission, with the armies of the Tennessee, Cumberland, and 
Ohio, to drain the lifeblood of the Confederacy by the con- 
quest of Georgia and the Carolinas in his marvelous cam- 
paign of '64-' 65. 

Sherman fills a conspicuous page in the history of great 
commanders. He will always hold high rank in the estimation 
of Americans as one of our foremost heroes. He is grouped 
with Sheridan and Thomas among the chief lieutenants of 
Grant. No matter what military critics may say as to which 
of these accomplished leaders preeminence is to be given, most 
of us will agree that in the popular regard Sherman has 
always stood next to Grant. 

Sherman's last years were spent in the city of New 7 York, 
where we were neighbors and friends. Born in Ohio, he was 

(81) 



82 General Sickles' s Address. 

quickly adopted by our people as one of their own. He died 
in 1 89 1. His funeral ceremonies in the great metropolis 
brought together a mourning multitude, such as had never 
been witnessed in our streets, except in the obsequies of Lin- 
coln and Grant. Not one of the mourners was more impressed 
by a profound sense of the national bereavement than Gen. 
"Joe" Johnston, of the Confederate Army, Sherman's bril- 
liant adversary in his greatest campaign. We have a statue of 
Sherman at the entrance to our Central Park in New York, 
which testifies our admiration of his character as a citizen and 
of his distinction as a soldier. 

Sherman might have filled the highest office in the Govern- 
ment if he had not declared that if nominated President he 
would not accept, and if elected he would refuse to serve. He 
left the honors of the political arena to his distinguished brother, 
whose ambition he would neither assist nor hinder. He refused 
to stay in Washington as a figurehead in the office of the com- 
mander of the Army, and established his headquarters in St. 
Louis, and Sherman was right. He was commander of the 
Army from March, 1869, to November, 1883, and retired from 
active service in February of the following year. 

No one who comes to Washington need be told that we are a 
martial people. The capital is adorned by many memorials of 
our great captains. These monuments will remind future gen- 
erations of the wars that signalized the first century of our 
national life. They will recall to those who come after us the 
magnitude and glory of the struggle for the preservation of 
the Union; the unmeasured - sufferings and sacrifices of our 
defenders; the vast multitudes that rallied to the flag after 
Sumter; the armed hosts that vanished like morning mists 
after the surrender of Lee and the capture of Davis; the sleep- 
less energy of Stanton, our illustrious War Secretary, who 



General Sickles' s Address. 83 

organized our armies — the victories of Antietam and Gettys- 
burg, of Vieksburg, Atlanta, and Appomattox, and, above all, 
our descendants will be forever reminded by these statues of 
the epoch and name of Lincoln, a name honored by all nations 
and evermore consecrated in the affections of the American 
people as the savior of the Republic. 

The presiding officer then introduced Gen. Charles H. Gros- 
venor, representing the Army 'of the Cumberland. 



S. Loe. 320—58-2. 




GENERAL GROSVENOR'S ADDRESS. 



Mr. President and Comrades, from the da}- when William 
Tecumseh Sherman achieved greatness and secured immor- 
tality as a soldier until the day of his death he stood, in the 
eyes and estimation of the world, as one of the great figures 
which emerged from the obscurity of peace into the effulgent 
glory of war. But when Death, the great destroyer, swept him 
off the stage of action he became the subject of almost universal 
eulogy. Comments in criticism, almost universally favorable 
and complimentary of his character and achievements, were 
spoken in every language known to the human race, and in our 
own language eulogy had long ago been exhausted. Turn 
as you will, study as you may, think as you can, and the 
world would pronounce you a genius if you, by any result of 
study or accident of the hour, said something new of Sherman. 
There was no phase of his character, striking or commonplace, 
lovable or unbeloved, great or small (if he had a small charac- 
teristic) that has not been discussed elaborately and minutely. 
He has been the subject of friendly criticism and of occasional 
depreciation. The subject of his character and the history of 
his achievements are exhausted subjects, and yet we come here 
to-day, representatives of four great army societies and repre- 
sentatives of a mighty sentiment in the United States, to do 
honor to the memory of Sherman. It may be well said that 
nothing that we do here to-day will add to his fame. No 
expression of opinion that we may make will either add to or 

(S 5 ) 



86 General Grosvenor } s Address. 

detract from the world's judgment of Sherman. The verdict 
of impartial history has been written, and judgment has been 
rendered upon it, and no expression of opinion that can be 
made at this late day will in the smallest degree modify public 
judgment. 

He stands in history as one of the foremost soldiers of the 
nineteenth century. I do not put him in comparison with any 
of the soldiers of our civil war. I am not here as the repre- 
sentative of an army society to institute comparisons in any 
possible way, or by implication, or by any suggestion that might 
possibly be made; but what I do say is that, taking the history 
of other nations and other wars and beginning at the dawn of 
the nineteenth century and coming down through all the wars 
and studying the character and achievements of all the soldiers, 
there is no one character so faultless, no one character so bril- 
liant, no one character so great in the elements of soldierly 
greatness, as appertains by common consent to the name and 
career and genius of William Tecumseh Sherman. 

He was born in Ohio, in the grand old city of Lancaster, 
a city that has given birth to many great men whom I might 
name. He went forth, a young man to the Military Academy, 
with hope and ambition to do honor to his native city, his 
native county, and his native State, and to his father and 
mother and his friends and neighbors, and he achieved the 
purpose of his ambition — he won out in the great struggle for 
supremacy. 

If I should enter upon the task of reviewing Sherman's 
campaigns and pointing out the genius manifested in this and 
the excellence comprehended in that and the high qualities 
developed in all of them, I should be but treading upon oft- 
trodden ground. Description has been beggared, detail has 
been exhausted, and eulogy ended. 



General Grosvenor' s Address. 87 

One or two special characteristics may be here properly 
referred to. He was the first man apparently who appreciated 
the magnitude of the struggle that we entered upon in 1861. 
He seemed to understand the situation better than any of his 
contemporaries. He was in a position to see and know and 
judge. He had been for a considerable time in the South and 
understood the bitter determination of the southern people to 
destroy the Union and set up another government. He knew 
exactly how completely the great mind of the South was united 
on this question. He understood how, for more than a genera- 
tion, the South had been organizing public opinion, preparing 
for the dread encounter; and he knew that the people of the 
South were a unit in action, and that they would destroy this 
Government, and that in doing so, if necessary, they would 
sacrifice everything they held dear on earth. He knew the 
character of that people. He knew that when they made the 
declaration which they did make it meant the expenditure of 
effort — exactly as it did mean, as it developed — and Sherman 
stated his opinion. He spoke then as he always spoke all his 
lifetime — openly, manfully, aboveboard — and he judged and so 
said, and so sent it abroad, that there ought to be 200,000 men 
raised as early as the summer of 1861 for the campaign in 
Kentucky and the Southwest alone; and so startling was his 
proposition, so unthought of by the great leaders of thought 
and opinion in the United States, that it was announced with- 
out qualification, without any hesitation, without a thought 
that it might be erroneous, that Sherman was crazy. I re- 
member the circumstances very well when he was stripped of 
his command of the then Army of the Ohio, with headquarters 
at Louisville, and the command was turned over to that excel- 
lent soldier and true patriot, in my judgment, Don Carlos Buell. 
I remember when the two generals came to Elizabethtown, 



88 General Grosvenor* s Address. 

where the troops to which I belonged were stationed, and I 
remember, as Sherman passed around and pointed out to Buell 
this regiment and that regiment, this brigade and that brigade — 
I remember how the faces of the men and officers bore traces 
of deep sympathy and commiseration that so promising a soldier 
as Sherman should have so suddenly lost his mind and become 
incapable; and he went back to the rear, and Buell took his 
place. He never complained; he never grumbled; he never 
deprecated the order. He was a soldier every inch of him, and 
whatever ambition he may have had, and it was great, and 
whatever hope of preferment he may have had — and he cer- 
tainly was buoyed up by it when he entered the service — he 
never yielded to the usual wail of a disappointed man, but he 
waited and took the position which would be offered to him in 
the future, if at all, and soon showed to the world not only 
that he was the accomplished soldier that he was, but the ac- 
complished statesman that he was, and that in the face of the 
predictions of Seward and the three months' enlistments, and 
all the infinite catalogue of mistakes, that his judgment was 
without fault — that it was wise and efficient. 

He very soon acquired the confidence of Grant and Lincoln. 
They very soon discovered that the circumstantial evidence 
which pointed in the absurd moment of ill-directed judgment 
to insanity was the indicia of a clear mind and a just and wise 
appreciation of the whole situation, and Sherman began to 
grow — how well and how rapidly, description and comment 
have been exhausted. 

The march to the sea and the appearance of Sherman in 
North Carolina was one of the most brilliant movements in 
modern warfare, and, compared with the strategy of more recent 
wars, there is no comparison, and language fails to draw an esti- 
mate of the difference in comparison. 



General Grosvenor's Address. 89 

I do not know in whose brain the original conception of the 
march to the sea and the swinging- up the coast toward Virginia 
had its inception, but it is generally understood to have been 
originated by Sherman himself; and certainly the plan of its 
execution, the details of its preparation, and the execution 
itself, with all its magnificence of strategy, were the work of 
Sherman, and when he led his victorious army through the 
streets of Washington and was received with enthusiasm on 
every hand; when he received the thanks of Congress and the 
approval of the President, there was no man on this continent, 
friend or foe, who doubted or belittled the genius of Sherman. 

Sherman was not a great success in inactivity. He was 
great when there was something to be done, and he was efficient 
when he was doing it. His genius could plan campaigns, and 
his care, gallantry, and dash could execute them, but he did 
not exactly fit into the groove of peace. He was restless; he 
was nervous; he wanted to be active. He did not believe that 
a man at sixty- four years of age was necessarily unfitted for 
active military duty, and had a great war come with a signifi- 
cant nation before Sherman died, he would have clamored at 
the Executive office for a chance to do something. He spoke 
out boldly against the organization of our Army, and pointed 
out the inefficiency of our system, and he set an example which , 
while it may not have been the highest demonstration of obedi- 
ence to orders and acquiescence in system, was a most sugges- 
tive movement when the General of the Army practically threw 
up his office and left Washington because of the incongruity of 
the system under which he was called upon to serve. No 
harm could come to the country by reason of it, because the 
office of General of the Army in time of peace had long ago been 
understood by intelligent men to hold a figurehead without 
value. 






90 General Grosvenor* s Address. 

A row began away back in the days of Wilkinson, in the 
war of 1812, and continued right along down, and if there is 
anything that the Army of to-day ought to be congratulated 
upon it is that the theory of Sherman and men who thought 
like him, a theory that has been in existence in the minds of 
men for eighty-five years, has at last been adopted and the Con- 
stitution of the United States has finally been recognized as the 
supreme law of the land in the matter of the government, con- 
trol, and command of the United States Army. Hitherto it had 
been a sort of neck-and-neck race between the President, the 
constitutional Commander in Chief, and the General of the 
Army "commanding," a most absurd and incongruous relation. 
You could not repeal the Constitution by a military order, and 
somehow it kept standing there, and it was an obstacle some- 
times to ambition and sometimes to peace and good order. 
Sometimes its existence created friction. Sometimes it was 
said that the enforcement of the Constitution was oppressive. 
Sometimes the Executive failed to assume the full powers and 
duties conferred by the Constitution, and Sherman pointed 
out all these incongruities and absurdities, and made perfectly 
clear to the intelligence of the United States that our system 
was fundamentally wrong, and it is a matter of high congratu- 
lation to-day that in the hands of the present Executive the first 
real enforcement and execution of the Constitution is being 
found. Thanks to Congress for the change. 

So it is well that these four military societies, comprising 
those who remain on earth following the great war, should 
come here jointly, all as one society, to do honor to the great 
commander. He commanded an Army of Ohio before the 
Army of the Tennessee or the Cumberland or the Potomac had 
an existence. He commanded the Army of the Tennessee 
immediately following the departure of Grant. He commanded 



General Grosvenor* s Address. 91 

the Army of the Cumberland in connection with the other 
armies and embracing in the grand column a portion of the 
Army of the Potomac on the great campaign to Atlanta and 
the famous march to the sea. 

His genius is not the property of any of these armies, but 
all of them. His renown is the common heritage of us all. 
His fame will go forward to future generations as the fame of 
a great American soldier, not confined by the limits of any 
society, but expanding and growing and glorious as the honor 
of an American soldier ever shall be. 

The presiding officer presented Gen. Thomas J. Henderson, 
on behalf of the Army of the Ohio. 



S. Doc. 320— 58-2. 




GEN. THOMAS J. HENDERSON'S ADDRESS. 



It is a great pleasure, as well as a great honor, to me to be 
called upon by my old and beloved commander, General Scho- 
field, and by my comrades of the Society of the Army of the 
Ohio, to stand here to-day, in this august presence, and on this 
great, historic occasion, and speak a few words in their behalf. 
And yet in the brief time allowed me in which to speak what 
can I say worthy of the occasion and worthy of the great sol- 
dier and great commander of the grand army of the West, in 
whose honor and to whose memory this beautiful equestrian 
statue has been erected? 

Shall I speak of Sherman and of his glorious deeds? It 
will consume most, if not all, the time I am to occupy on this 
occasion to even name the great campaigns and the great 
marches he made, the great battles he fought and the victories 
he won, and which have made his name and his fame more 
imperishable and enduring than is the bronze of which this 
beautiful statue has been formed and fashioned into his own 
image. 

The name of Sherman and the memory of his illustrious 
military service will live forever in the hearts and affections of 
all who served under his command and of every lover of this 
proud Republic which his valor, his patriotism, and his great 
generalship contributed so much to preserve and perpetuate for 
us and for the generations which are to follow after us. 

(93) 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 7 



94 Gen. Thomas J. Henderson 1 s Address. 

Shall I speak of the grand army of the West, which Sher- 
man commanded, and of its glorious service? It was a great 
army, and it would require volumes to tell the story of its great 
deeds and glorious achievements in defending and maintaining 
the union of States and in preserving this great Government of 
the people established by our fathers. The record of its 
marches, its battles, and its glorious triumphs will ever adorn 
the brightest pages of our country's history. If the lesson of 
its bravery, its loyalty and its patriotic devotion to the flag of 
our country shall be properly impressed upon the minds and 
hearts of the generations which shall come after us, and be 
followed by them, then this proud Republic, this might}' nation, 
will endure to the end of time. And I know this is the earnest 
wish and desire of all assembled here to-day, and of every 
survivor of all the great armies which fought to maintain the 
Union, and for the honor and glory of the free Government 
bequeathed to us by our patriotic, liberty-loving fathers. 

In thus referring, as I have done, to the grand arm}- of the 
West and its illustrious service, I do not wish it to be under- 
stood that I have either forgotten or underestimated the glori- 
ous service of that other grand army in the war for the Union — 
the grand Army of the Potomac. That magnificent army, under 
the command of McClellau, of Burnside, of Hooker, of Meade, 
and finally of Grant, the greatest of all our great commanders, 
was by its position the defender at all times of the national cap- 
ital, the loss of which at any time might have been the loss of 
the cause for which we fought. But the Army of the Potomac 
fought many of the greatest battles of the war and won many 
of the most glorious victories, culminating in the occupation of 
Richmond, the Confederate capital, the surrender of Lee's army 
at Appomattox, and the glorious termination of the war for the 



Gen. Thomas J. Hendersorts Address. 95 

Union, the greatest war ever waged by mankind for freedom 
and free government. 

All honor and all glory to the grand Army of the Potomac! 
It did its work nobly and it did it well. But on this occasion 
it seems more appropriate to speak of Sherman and of his 
great army and of their service. And while I neither forget 
nor underestimate the distinguished service of the grand Army 
of the Potomac, I do not want that army to forget or under- 
estimate the equally distinguished service of the grand Army of 
the West, composed as it was of the Arm>' of the Tennessee, 
the Army of the Cumberland, and the Army of the Ohio — under 
command of that great soldier and hero whom we honor to-day, 
William Tecumseh Sherman. The grand Army of the 
West in the Atlanta campaign, the greatest campaign, I think, 
of the war for the Union, if not of all wars, fought its way day 
b} T day, week by week, and month by month for more than 
three months, from Buzzard Roost and Tunnel Hill to Atlanta, 
and on to Jonesboro and L,ovejoy, some portion of the army 
under fire of the enemy every day and sometimes at night ; and 
then it took possession of Atlanta and Decatur. It pursued 
Hood when he recrossed the Chattahoochee with his army, with 
the purpose of cutting Sherman's communications and cap- 
turing his supplies, with so much vigor and force that Hood 
was unable to accomplish his purpose and was driven off into 
northwestern Alabama. Our corps of this grand army, General 
Schofield's, was then sent back to support the Fourth Corps, 
under Stanley, and to help that grand old hero, General Thomas, 
the "Rock of Chickamauga," take care of Hood and his army; 
and Schofield and Stanley, with their commands, under General 
Thomas, when Hood crossed the Tennessee, resisted his advance 
upon Nashville with great bravery and gallantry; fought the 
battles of Franklin and Nashville, two of the great and most 



96 Gen. Thomas J. Hendersons Address. 

decisive battles of the war; put Hood's army to rout and sub- 
stantially destnwed it, and ended the war in the West. 

In the meantime, Sherman and the rest of the grand Army 
of the West was making that famous march from Atlanta to 
the sea and up through the Carolinas, fighting at Bentouville, 
as I believe, the last battle of the war for the Union. And so, 
my comrades of the grand Army of the Potomac, the grand 
Arm}' of the West had prepared the way for your great work, 
and by their brilliant movements and heroic action made it pos- 
sible for the Army of the Potomac to occupy Richmond and 
demand the surrender of Lee's army. And I say, all honor 
and all glory to the grand Army of the West, and to Sherman, 
its great commander. 

Comrades of the grand Army of the West, let me ask you, 
Do you remember the last review Sherman made of his great 
Army, at Raleigh, N. C? I remember it well as one of the most 
interesting events of my life. The' war was well over. There 
was a sweet sense of peace in the air, as well as in the hearts 
of the soldiers of the entire Army, and everybody was happy; 
I know I was happy; and how well I remember Sherman as 
he reviewed his veteran army, corps by corps and army by 
army, until the Twentieth and last corps to be reviewed, as I 
remember, was reviewed by the immortal Grant! What a re- 
view that was, and when it was over what a shout went up 
from the vast multitude of officers and men who had come 
together to witness it ! It was a shout of triumph and of great 
joy. I never saw Sherman look so tall before as he did when 
his veteran army was marching by in review. His face was 
radiant with joy, the joy which comes from the consciousness 
of duty nobly done and well performed. I never felt in all my 
life a deeper love of country, nor did I ever have a stronger 
faith in the future greatness and glory of our country and the 



Gen. Thomas J. Henderson } s Address. 97 

perpetuation of our great free Government than I did when 
witnessing that review of Sherman's great army. 

I am proud, if I may be permitted to say so, of the fact that 
I was an humble soldier of the grand Armj r of the West, and 
that I served under Sherman. I am proud also that I served 
in the Army of the Ohio from its organization until the end of 
its distinguished service. I might have been equally as proud 
to have served in the Army of the Tennessee or in the Army 
of the Cumberland, both splendid armies — but no prouder. I 
am proud also to have served under the command of that 
great soldier and brave commander, General Schofield, of 
whom General Sherman said at one time, in speaking of him 
and his service, "Where he was there was security." He 
was a great soldier, and the Army of the Ohio has a right to 
be proud of its service under his command. I am glad to see 
• him here to-day in such good health, participating in the dedi- 
cation of this statue to Sherman, whom I know he loved and 
honored, as we all do so much. God bless him and spare him 
for many years to come, to enjoy the distinction and the hap- 
piness he so well deserves. 

In a notable speech made by General Sherman at the first 
annual reunion of the Army of the Cumberland he spoke these 
commendable words: " I claim to be of the Army of the Ohio, 
of the Army of the Cumberland, of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee. I care not in which you throw me for fame, my title 
there is heritage enough for me; but bound together, all in 
one, the grand Army of the West, 'the commander' is a title 
of which I am proud indeed;" and having that title, this 
beautiful statue has been erected and dedicated to his memory; 
and I trust it will stand here, in the capital of the nation he 
contributed so much to save, for all time to come to honor and 
to perpetuate his great name and fame. 



CONCLUSION. 

At the close of General Henderson's address, General Dodge 
stepped forward and in a few well-chosen remarks, in behalf of 
the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and of the army 
societies which had united with it in celebration of this occa- 
sion, thanked the President and distinguished assemblage about 
him for their presence. He also expressed his appreciation of 
the excellent arrangements made by Col. Thomas W. Symons, 
Engineer Corps, U. S. Army, in charge of monument and cere- 
monies, for the unveiling of the statue and the comfort and con- 
venience of the guests. He also referred to the merited tribute 
paid to the veterans of the civil war in the general scheme of 
decoration. His forceful words, which gave a touch of com- 
pleteness to the event, were enthusiastically applauded, at the 
end of which he called upon Right Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, 
Bishop (P. E.) of Washington, to pronounce the benediction. 

BENEDICTION. 

The God of Peace, who brought again from the dead our 
Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in 
every work to do His will, working in you that which is well 
pleasing in His sight. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be 
glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

DEPARTURE OF THE PRESIDENT. 

As the guests were departing a brilliant gathering of military 
and naval heroes of the late wars of the United States formed 

(99) 



ioo Conclusion. 

about the President, who received them with every indication 
of gratification at being thus able to take them by the hand. 
At the close of this impromptu side scene the President and 
party left the grand stand for the White House, escorted by the 
commander and a guard of honor from the Department of the 
Potomac, Grand Army of the Republic, and a detachment from 
the Washington Battalion of Minute Men. The United States 
Marine Band, as a closing number, played the "Thomas Jeffer- 
son March" (Santelmann). 

COMPLIMENTED BY THE PRESIDENT. 

From the moment Colonel Symons gave the signal for the 
concerted parts of his programme to begin, every movement 
went forward in perfect harmony. As the President was about 
to leave the grand stand, he turned to Colonel Symons in order 
to tender to him a formal expression of his appreciation of the 
excellent taste and execution of the arrangements of the 
dedication. 

The varied experience of this accomplished officer admirably 
adapted him to the important ceremonial functions which he 
was called upon to superintend in addition to his engineering 
duties. Although his assignment dated from May, 1903, 
he performed six years of important professional services 
under the General and District governments at Washington, 
where he was brought in touch with public affairs. At Buffalo 
he was a member of the board of management of the Pan- 
American Exposition and took part in the entertainment of 
officials representing the Government of the United States and 
ambassadors and plenipotentiaries of the governments of the 
world. 

The stands, decorations, seating, and mechanics of the unveil- 
ing were under the direction of Colonel Symons and carried out 



Conclusion. 101 

by Mr. Frederick D. Oweu, of the office of engineer in charge 
of public buildings and grounds; photographs of events by 
Jarvis. 

COMMITTEE ON RECEPTION. 

The success of the seating of the vast assemblage was also a 
subject of universal approbation. The following was the per- 
sonnel of this committee: 

Frederick D. Owen, chairman, Phillip Walker, Robert S. Hume, John 
B. Thompson, Frank B. Smith, William S. Broughton, Henry W. Samson, 
Newton L. Collamer, Lee R. Martin, Dr. Joseph S. Wall, Dr. J. Breckin- 
ridge Bayne, Henry O. Hall, Dr. J. H. McCormick, Frank A. Birgfeld, 
Edward S. Glavis, Albert Ford Ferguson, Herman W. Birgfeld, W. P. 
Van Wickle, John P. Earnest, Dr. Loren B. T. Johnson, H. P. R. Holt, 
John K. Stauffer, William L. Browning, Francis F. Gillen, Robt. Preston 
Shealey, Thomas P. Randolph, John E. Fenrick, William H. Bayly, 
Wallace D. McLean, William H. Pearce, F. G. Eiker, Leon L. L. French, 
Joseph C. Hardie, Dr. John L. Wirt, Harry W. Van Dyke, Dr. Frank L. 
Biscoe, Dr. Charles C. Marbury, Wilbur S. Smith, John S. Smith, Alexander 
G. Bentley, R. B. Turley, Benjamin R. Rhees, John D. Carmody. 



REUNIONS. 



COMMEMORATIVE GAVETIES. 

The gathering of heroes of the civil war and their friends 
was one of the most impressive witnessed in Washington since 
the famous May day of 1865, when the four great armies 
marched in the grand review before the President of the 
United States. Among the number were also surviving vet- 
erans of the Mexican war, in which the subject of commemo- 
ration was a participant, and their descendants and a splendid 
array of the victors of the war with Spain. 

In the personnel of the multitude of heroes were men of the 
Blue as well as the Gray, in itself a realization of Sherman's 
celebrated epigram, "War's legitimate object is more perfect 
peace." All were of common impulse to do honor to one of 
the Republic's foremost military chieftains and to celebrate 
more than a half century of the achievements of the national 
arms on land and sea. 

It was therefore a gaia week amid reminiscent glories of 
hard-fought war and resplendent peace. 

THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE. 

The Arm}- of the Tennessee, which gave to the Union arms 
in the civil war in the United States its two greatest soldiers 
and the originator and promoter of the monument unveiled, 
was in all essential features the host of the occasion. 

(103) 



104 Reunions. 

The events of the week were ushered in by the members of 
the society on the evening of October 13, in a body, making a 
formal call upon General Dodge, their president, and Colonel 
Cadle, secretary. 

Officers, 1903-4. 

President. — Grenville M. Dodge, Iowa. 

Vice-presidents. — Maj. Wm. Warner, Missouri; Col. James Kilbourne, 
Ohio; Gen. W. T. Clark, District of Columbia; Col. O. D. Kinsman, 
District of Columbia; Col. B. H. Peterson, Louisiana; Capt. G. A. Busse, 
Illinois; Gen. John C. Black, Illinois; Maj. D. W. Reed, Illinois; Mrs. 
Minnie Sherman Fitch, Pennsylvania; Capt. George Ady, Colorado; 
Maj. W. R. McComas, Ohio; Maj. George Mason, Illinois; Maj. W. L. B. 
Jenney, Illinois; Capt. John B. Colton, Missouri; Gen. J. W. Barlow, 
U. S. Army, Connecticut. 

Corresponding secretary. — Gen. Andrew Hickenlooper, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Recording secretary. — Col. Cornelius Cadle, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Treasurer. — Maj. A. M. Van Dyke, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

This reminiscent society was founded by the officers of that 
army of the Military Division of the Mississippi, Maj. Gen. 
William T. Sherman commanding, in camp at Raleigh, 
N. C, April 14, 1865, on its home march to the capital of the 
Union which it was so largely instrumental in rescuing from 
dissolution. 

In 1866 the first meeting was held after the cessation of hos- 
tilities, with Gen. John A. Rawlins president until his death in 
1869. In that year General Sherman was chosen head of the 
society, until his death in 1891, when he was succeeded by 
Gen. G. M. Dodge, who inaugurated the movement which led 
to the erection of the monument, and who presided over the 
splendid ceremonial tribute to its unveiling. 

PREPARING FOR THE CEREMONIES. 

In order to anticipate a full representation of the members of 
the society, General Dodge, president, a month preceding the 
unveiling, sent out a stirring call, impressing upon them the 



Reunions. 



105 



importance of attending their meeting in Washington October 

15 and 16, "when the statue of our old commander, General 

Sherman, is to be unveiled." 

It is to be a national occasion, and the armies of the Potomac, Cum- 
berland, and Ohio have greatly honored us by holding their reunions in 
Washington at the same time, so as to take part in the exercises. It is 
therefore the duty of every member of our society whose health will per- 
mit to be present. It is the only opportunity that you will ever have to 
see the four societies of the great armies of the civil war together, and 
many of the living distinguished soldiers of that war will be present. 

The President, his Cabinet, and the diplomatic corps will also honor 
us with their presence, and the preparation for the ceremonies are on a 
broader scale than ever before. I therefore appeal to you to attend; bring 
your family and take part in a reunion that no doubt will be eventful and 
historical. 

The unanimity of the response to this ' ' assembly ' ' note was 
best shown in the turn-out of veterans on the avenues of Wash- 
ington who bore the badge of the Society of the Army of the 
Tennessee. 

AN INTERESTING INCIDENT. 

The regular business of the annual session, which was held 
on the morning of the unveiling, having been disposed of, a 
recess was taken for a most interesting incident, in formally 
receiving as honored guests the three children of their "old 
commander" — Rev. Thomas Ewing Sherman, Mr. P. Tecum- 
seh Sherman, and Mrs. Minnie Sherman Fitch. General 
Dodge, president, expressed a few suitable words of welcome, 
to which the Reverend Sherman responded, thanking the soci- 
ety for its work in connection with the monument to his father, 
and saying that ' ' the members of the society would always be 
held in grateful remembrance by the Sherman family. ' ' 

After the transaction of further regular business the society 
adjourned to meet at 2 p. m. in front of the hotel. At that 
hour these veterans of many fields formed and marched in a 
body to the scene of the unveiling. 



106 Reunions. 

THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. 

On June 10, 1865, a meeting of officers and enlisted men 
of the Army of the Cumberland was held at the headquar- 
ters of the artillery command of the Fourth Army Corps in 
the vicinity of Nashville, Tenu., to arrange for the adoption 
of a badge to signalize and perpetuate the history of the 
Army of the Cumberland. The five-pointed star, with appro- 
priate emblems, was selected. 

In response to a call in February, 1868, the Society of 
the Army of the Cumberland was organized at Cincinnati, 
Ohio, with Maj. Gen. George H.' Thomas president, and a 
membership of 353, among whom was Maj. Gen. P. H. 
Sheridan. In the list of membership since have been three 
Presidents of the United States — Grant, Garfield, and Harri- 
son — and four generals of the Arm}- of the United States — 
Grant, Sherman, Schofield, and Sheridan. 

The following are the officers of the society, 1903: 

President. — Gen. H. V. Boynton. 

Corresponding secretary. — Maj. John Tweedale. 

Treasurer. — Gen. Frank G. Smith. 

Recording secretary. — Col. J. W. Steele. 

Historian.— Col. G. C. Kniffin. 

Executive committee. — Gen. J. Barnett, chairman; Capt. J. W. Foley, 
Gen. J. G. Parkhurst, Gen. C. H. Grosvenor, Gen. H. C. Corbin, Gen. 
S. D. Atkins, Maj. J. M. Farquhar, Private O. A. Somers, and the officers 
of the society ex officio. Membership, 500. 

The society, upon invitation of the president of the Soci- 
ety of the Army of the Tennessee, fixed the time and place 
of its thirty-first annual reunion coincident with the cere- 
monies attending the dedication of the monument at Wash- 
ington City to commemorate the military services of Gen. 
William T. Sherman. 

After a business meeting in the earlier part of the day, on 



Reunions. 107 

the evening of Wednesday, October 14, public exercises were 
held in the First Congregational Church before a large assem- 
blage of members of the society and an immense represent- 
ative audience of the civil, military, and naval branches of 
the Government, other military societies, and unofficial life. 
The auditorium was handsomely decorated with national 
colors, flags, and bunting, and conspicuously a portrait of 
Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, former commander. The 
newly elected president, Gen. Henry V. Boynton, presiding, 
announced the exercises of the occasion in the following order: 

Overture — National Airs Tobani. 

Orchestra, W. A. Haley, Conductor. 
Bugle call, " The Assembly," 

Bugler John L. Eddy, Second Cavalry. 

Prayer Rev. S. M. Newman, D. D. 

Presentation of new president of society, by Gen. J. G. 

Parkhurst. 
Remarks by Gen. H. V. Boynton, president of the society. 

He fervently expressed his surprise, and at the same time 
his appreciation, of the unexpected honor of election to a 
place which had been filled successively by men of renown like 
Thomas, Rosecranz, Sheridan, and Stanley. 

Selection, " King Dodo" Luders. 

Orchestra. 

Oration Gen. Gates P. Thurston. 

He recalled the dedication of a monument twenty-four years 
before in this city to Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, the last 
commander of the Arm}- of the Cumberland and first president 
of the society bearing its name; also sixteen years before another 
memorial to Comrade James A. Garfield, and in May, 1902, the 
burial, with suitable ceremonies, of Gen. W. S. Rosecranz, com- 
mander of this arm}-, at Arlington, and gave an analytical view 
of ' ' The members and rosters of the two armies in the civil 



108 Reunions. 

war," with a view to the correction of palpable errors in the 

numbers of enlistments and to show the magnitude of the two 

armies, Federal and Confederate, in the great conflict. As these 

figures are valuable for the research and care bestowed upon 

them, they may be inserted for record. The official report of the 

provost-marshal- general, he said, shows the combined strength 

of the Federal Armies, deducting absentees: 

July i, 1S61 183, 000 

January 1 , 1862 527, 000 

January 1 , 1863 698, 000 

January 1, 1864 611, 000 

March 31, 1865 657, 000 

The ' ' superintendent of special registration ' ' reported to the 
bureau of conscription of the Confederate war department for 
six States to January 1, 1864, 566,456 soldiers. The remain- 
ing five Confederate States, including Tennessee in the same 
proportion, must have furnished 416,176 soldiers of the total 
982,632. The enlistments and conscriptions during the last 
fifteen months of the war must have increased this to 1,100,000 
soldiers. 

Bass solo, "The Recessional" (rendered during Queen Vic- 
toria's Jubilee) Kipling. 

By J. Walter Humphrey. 

Cornet solo, ' ' Violets " Wright. 

Reading, "The Advance Guard" (written in the 70's for a 
reunion of the Army of the James, by John Hay, Secretary 

of State) , 

Maj. John Tweedale. 

March, "Stars and Stripes Forever" Sousa. 

Orchestra. 

Bugle call, "The General's March " 

Remarks Lieut. Gen. S. B. M. Voung. 

(Not present.) 

Bugle call, "To the Standard " 

Remarks Lieut. Gen. John M. Schofield. 



Reunions. 109 

The General said that the Army of the Ohio and the Cum- 
berland had served together more than any other two great 
armies of the civil war in the campaign from Chattanooga to 
Atlanta, and then at Franklin and Nashville, in which one 
corps of the Army of the Tennessee was also engaged in giving 
to the Rebellion its death blow in that part of the country. 

Bugle call, "Reveille." 

Remarks Maj. Gen. John R. Brooke. 

Having come from the reunion of the Army of the Potomac, 
in progress at the same time, he delightfully entertained the 
large audience with a retrospect of his experiences during the 
early events of the war, particularly referring to Gettysburg 
and Vicksburg, which made the country feel on July 4, 1863, 
as if the country were "one and indivisible," which "to-day 
we feel is the greatest nation in the world." 

Bugle call, "Tattoo." 

Remarks Maj. Gen. Henry C. Corbin. 

The sentiment of his eloquent remarks was no class of people 
have greater influence for good than the surviving soldiers of 
the civil war — being true of the soldiers of the Union as of 
those of the Confederacy. While the tatto just sounded tells 
of the time of life, it should not mean rest so much as the time 
to harvest well the labors of our lives and leaving them for the 
guidance of those about us, as well as those coming after. 

While in England he had been presented to the nobility of 
the mother country. It is now a pleasure to present a distin- 
guished English soldier to the nobility of America, the sur- 
vivors of the Armies of the Union. 

Presenting Sir Ian Hamilton, lieutenant-general of the Eng- 
lish army, who in well-chosen remarks said, " Tommy Atkins" 
is all right. His heart is as sound as a bell and beats in warmest 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 S 



no Reunions. 

sympathy with his comrades in America. Whoever failed in 
South Africa, "Tommy Atkins" did not. He had been to 
Gettysburg and Antietam and had seen the memorial to the 
heroic dead. It is the greatest privilege to be here to speak of 
those among the living. The few days I have to spend in 
America — all too few — I must spend some of them at Chatta- 
nooga and Chickamauga, where I shall see with my own eyes 
the scene at least of some of the exploits of this veteran assem- 
blage. 

Bugle call, "The Charge." 

Remarks .'Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson. 

(Not present.) 

Bugle call, "To Arms." 

Remarks Maj. Gen. G. M. Dodge, president of 

the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and of its com- 
mittee and commission of congress, which originated, 
prosecuted, and executed the memorial to be unveiled. 

He expressed it " as a most gracious act on the part of the 
Society of the Army of the Cumberland to accept the invitation 
of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee to hold its annual 
reunion " so as to participate in the unveiling of the monument 
to ' ' your once commander and second commander of the Army 
of the Tennessee." He also wished to extend thanks to the 
societies of the Armies of the Potomac and of the Ohio for the 
consideration which they had given to this commemorative 
event. 

The veteran general, former commander of the famous Six- 
teenth Corps, the nearest man, living or dead, to Grant and 
Sherman, and confidant of Presidents, was eloquently remi- 
niscent. Having been halted on the Nashville and Decatur 
Railroad without rations and orders to rebuild it, Sherman 
replied, " The quicker you build the railroad to Nashville the 
quicker you will get something to eat." General Thomas, 
commander of the Army of the Cumberland, gave orders "to 



Reunions. 



in 



give us a free hand and wide sweep. ' ' He repaid the kindness 
by sending to him from his then Department of Missouri two 
divisions to assist in his great victories around Nashville. 

Bugle call, " Boots and Saddles." 

Remarks Hon. David B. Henderson. 

The ex-Speaker in his happiest mood kept the vast audience 
in roars of laughter and rounds of applause. "A lady," he 
said, ' ' in whom I have implicit confidence and to whom my 
love is eternal 1}' pledged said to me as I was packing my bag 
to go to a reunion of comrades, 'David, what in the world do 
you fellows have to talk about at your army meetings? I 
should think you would run out!" 'My dear, we don't go 
to talk; we just go there to meet together and to feel.' ' I feel. 
You have got to be through the fires of war to understand my 
simple answer. We went there to look into each other's eyes, 
to sing the old songs, and to count the vacant chairs." The 
great audience would not hearken to the five-minute rule, 
insisting upon more, which the General continued in the same 
breezy vein. Turning, he shouted, "By Jove, here's old 
Grosvenor, too. We ought to adjourn for a love feast and take 
the girls in, too," retiring amid a tempest of laughter and 
shouts, ' ' Go on ! " 

Bugle call, "Rally." 

Remarks Hon. James Rudolph Garfield. 

Regretted that he could not be called a comrade of the asso- 
ciation, but had known it from boyhood by "the names of its 
leaders, its battles, and from following its line of march." "If 
we carry out the ideas you taught us, we can bring understand- 
ing and harmony out of existing industrial conditions to-day, 
as you brought them out of the political condition of '61 
to '65." 

Bugle call. 

Remarks Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard. 



ii2 Reunions. 

Presented an interesting review of his introduction to the 
Arni5* of the Cumberland when he landed at Brown's farm, on 
the Tennessee River, near Chattanooga, and of events at Look- 
out Mountain and associations after. He paid a handsome 
tribute to General Thomas, its commander, who was his ideal 
of a soldier, particularly for his championship of paternalism 
rather than of martinetism in military methods. 

Bugle call, "The Charge." 

Remarks Admiral W. S. Schley. 

" The sense of loyal duty," he said, " which inspired devotion 
to the country in its imperiled moments from '61 to '65 should 
inspire all young men and women as worthy of imitation. ' ' The 
statue to be unveiled to the great chieftain, if it means any one 
thing more than another, it means the consecration of a life to 
that sense of duty which knew no fear of death, a life that is 
all the more dear from the fact that it typifies a standard of 
worth that is emphasized in the splendid career which his com- 
rades and countrymen have determined to perpetuate in im- 
perishable bronze, that it may remain with us always." 

"America," by the entire audience, with organ accompani- 
ment by Dr. J. W. Bischoff, followed by "Auld Lang' 
Syne." 

Taps Bugler, U. S. Army. 

March, "American Beaut} - " Haley. 

Orchestra. 

(Bugle calls by John L. Eddy, Troop H, Second Cavalry, U. S. A.) 

Reception committee. — Gen. G. C. Kniffin, chairman; Gen. Joseph C. 

Breckinridge, Gen. Frank G. Smith, Gen. E. A. Carman, Col. Green Clay 

Goodloe, Maj. John Tweedale, Maj. John M. Carson, Capt. L. M. Kelley. 

THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 

The Society of the Army of the Potomac, the largest of these 
reminiscent organizations, had arranged for its annual reunion 
for 1903 at Boston, but at the invitation of General Dodge the 



Reunions. 113 

Boston meeting adjourned to assemble at Washington and par- 
ticipate in the ceremonies of the Sherman statue unveiling. 
This great society first met in February, but organized in July, 
1869, at New York City, Maj. Gen. G. B. McClellan presiding. 
Gen. P. H. Sheridan was chosen first president. Its officers 
for 1903 are: 

President. — Gen. John R. Brooke. 

Vice-Presidents. — Gen. H. S. Huidekoper, Maj. A. C. Richardson, Gen. 
George E. Randolph, Gen. George D. Ruggles, Col. Ralph E. Prime, Gen. 
Thos. O. Seaver, Maj. John Byrne, Gen. Howard L. Porter, Gen. Orland 
Smith, Maj. C. A. Hopkins, Col. George M. Lane, Gen. Nicholas W. Day, 
Maj. Charles G. Davis, Gen. Alexander S. Webb, Col. Samuel T. Cushing. 

Treasurer. — Lieut. Frank S. Halliday. 

Recording Secretary. — Brevet Col. Horatio C. King. 

Corresponding Secretary. — Col. William L. Fox. 

On its rolls are the names of Grant, who was once president 
of the society; Sickles, Hancock, Newton, Slocum, Howard, 
Parke, Pleasanton, Humphrey, Burnside, Meade, McClellan, 
Hooker, McDowell, Hartranft, Franklin, Butterfield, Miles, 
Gibbon, Sewell. 

The society was interested in the erection of the statue to 
Hancock, and has contributed to the statue to McClellan 
ordered by Congress, also for Washington. 

On Wednesday evening, October 14, the society held a "camp 
fire" at the Metropolitan (M. E. ) Church. The interior was 
beautifully decorated with national colors, and the badges of 
the corps which constituted the fighting strength of this one of 
the four great armies of the civil war. 

The representation of the 2,000 membership was large and 
distinguished, and with the attendance of other societies and 
friends the auditorium was filled to overflowing and the enthu- 
siasm great. 

A trumpeter of Troop E, Second U. S. Cavalry, opened the 
proceedings with the reveille call. The chairman, J. D. 



H4 Reunions. 

Croissant, made the announcements. Former United States 

Senator John M. Thurston, orator of the evening, paid eloquent 

testimony to the services of General Sherman: 

SHERMAN, the man whom we are to honor to-morrow, was one of the 
greatest soldiers of modern times. He was not alone a great soldier, he 
was a great citizen and would have made a conspicuous mark in any 
field to which he might have been called. When you sit in that stand 
to-morrow and see the serried ranks pass before you in review, when you 
see the flags dipped in the presence of that statue of the man who led 
you to magnificent victory, you may know that there is not a heart there 
that will not be throbbing in unison with yours at the sight of that figure, 
wrought in imperishable bronze, of one of the mightiest men in the history 
of American achievement. 

The oration framed in sentiment -and words a telling tribute 
to Sherman and his military career, the heroes who served 
under him, and the glory of the Union which he aided so 
forcefully to restore to peace and harmony. 

Hon. William E. Andrews spoke upon the conduct of the 
soldiers of the civil war and of the lessons taught to their 
countrymen by their deeds of sacrifice and courage. 

Major Viele extolled the men of both armies for the stead- 
fast American courage that called them forth to fight for the 
cause the}' each held sacred. "The charge of the First Minne- 
sota at Gettysburg, "■ he said, "was more heroic than that of 
the famous Light Brigade at Balaklava. Because of the bravery 
of the soldiers of that day, the country in this day is the most 
potent influence on the face of the earth." 

Gen. G. W. Baird aroused a wild spirit of martial eclat 
reading his original poem, "Sixty-one." Mrs. John A. Logan 
added to the pathos of the occasion by recounting many inci- 
dents relating to the military deeds of her famous husband. As 
many of his old soldiers were present, their enthusiasm was 
unbounded. Speeches were also made by Gen. Horatio King, 
of New York; Gen. T. J. Henderson, of Illinois, and General 
Howard, relating personal experiences in the great conflict. 



Re ii)i ions. 115 

Music was interspersed throughout the evening by the 
organist and the Burnside Glee Club, and at times the clear 
notes of the trumpet sounded various military calls. The 
concluding number, "America," was sung by the entire 
assemblage, and the evening closed appropriately with the call 
of ' ' Taps ' ' on the bugle. 

The veterans lingered in the aisles after 1 1 o'clock, discussing 
with their comrades the times of forty years ago, when they 
were campaigning with Grant in the Wilderness. 

THE SOCIETV OF THE ARMY OF THE OHIO. 

The organization of the Society of the Army of the Ohio took 
place in the sixties, soon after the close of the civil war, by 
the election of Gen. John M. Schofield president, which office 
he has held ever since. On its roll of membership appear 
the names of the late President (Major) McKinley; Gen. J. D. 
Cox, Secretary of the Interior in the Grant Cabinet; Gen. 
A. H. Terry, Gen. Thomas J. Henderson, speaker for the 
society at the ceremonies; General Curtis, hero of Fort Fisher; 
Stoueman, the cavalry leader, and Gen. Stanley L,. Hartsuff. 

The following are the officers for 1903: 

President. — Lieut. Gen. John M. Schofield. 

First Vice-President. — Gen. Thomas J. Henderson. 

Vice-President for the District of Columbia. — Capt. George Redway. 

Treasurer. — Maj. J. F. Stewart. 

Secretary and Historian. — J. Fraise Richards. 

Executive Committee. — Capt. A. F. McMillan, chairman; Capt. J. .L- 
Thornton, Col. John A. Joyce, Capt. Gideon Lyon, Capt. R. A. Ragan, 
N. N. McCullough, and T. M. Tallmadge. 

On Wednesday evening, October 14, all the societies united 
in a call on Lieutenant- General Schofield, the reception being 
given under the auspices of the Society of the Arm}' of the 
Ohio. 



n6 Reunions. 

A brief programme of music, recitations, and speeches occu- 
pied the time until the arrival of the guests. The outpouring 
of veterans and friends and their ladies from all the societies, 
who arrived escorted by the band of the Corps of Engineers, 
U. S. Army, was very large. The veteran general was much 
touched by the warmth of the occasion. 

LOCAL HOSPITALITY. 

The local committee of the Society of the Army of the 

Potomac, rising to the occasion, by invitation, embossed at the 

top in colors and gold, with crossed cannon and pendant, a 

shield with a star and crescent bearing "A. P.," surrounded by 

bannerets with the emblems of the six corps of that army, 

requested — 

the presence of yourself and lady at a reception to be given in honor of 
the vSocieties of the Armies of the Tennessee, the Cumberland, the Ohio, 
and the Potomac, at Rauscher's, Thursday evening, October the fifteenth, 
from half-past eight to eleven o'clock. Nelson A. Miles, Lieut. Gen., 
U. S. A., chairman. Llewellyn G. Estes, Brevet Brigadier-General, 
U. S. V., secretary. 

Each member of the different army societies wore a white 

enamel badge, bearing a likeness of General Sherman in the 

uniform of his general's rank, and a ribbon inscribed: 

37th Reunion 

Society of the Army 

of the Potomac 

Washington, 

October 15-16, 1903, 

The Dedication of 

The Statue to 

William Tecumseh Sherman. 

The hall was elaborately decorated with flags, flowers, and 
foliage in national design. The portraits of six Presidents — 
Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Hayes, Harrison, and McKinley — 
adorned three walls, while on the south was a large picture of 



Reunions. 117 

General Sherman, draped with flags and bunting and banked 
with flowers. Three United States bands — the Marine Band 
Orchestra, and engineer and cavalry military bands- — discoursed 
suitable music. 

The visitors were met at the door by a committee under the 
chairmanship of Col. Robert G. Rutherford, U. S. Army, who 
extended a hearty welcome in the name of the Society of the 
Army of the Potomac. Arriving at the head of the stairs, a 
floor committee, of which Brevet Brig. Gen. Van Hartness 
Bukey, U. S. Volunteers, was the chairman, ushered the guests 
into the reception rooms. 

General Sickles occupied a seat and united in the greetings 
to the guests. The affair was representative of the civil, mili- 
tary, and naval services and unofficial social life at the capital. 
A noticeable feature was the large presence of the older men in 
the various official and unofficial walks of Washington life. 
Owing to the immense throng and to avoid crowding, the 
visitors were courteously shown along a second passageway by 
a committee, Maj. Frank A. Butts, chairman, from which they 
departed. 

THE AZTEC SOCIETY OF 1 847. 

The festivities opened with a grand flourish of valor of 
former days at the banquet of the Aztec Society on the night 
of Monday, October 13. This society, originally composed of 
officers of the United States Army who served in the war with 
Mexico, was instituted in the City of Mexico in 1847, and has 
been continued ' ' with a view to cherish the memories and keep 
alive the traditions that cluster about the names of those 
officers who took part in the Mexican war. ' ' 

The toasts responded to were: 

"The President of the United States," by General Randolph. 

"The Aztec Club of 1847," h Y General Gibson. 



n8 Reunions. 

" The Army of the United States in Mexico and Elsewhere." 
by General Randolph. 

"The Navy of the United States in Mexico and Elsewhere," 
by Admiral Winfield Scott Schley. 

"The Marine Corps of the United States," by General 
Elliot, commandant of the Marine Corps. 

"Gen. Winfield Scott; In Hoc Signo Yinces," by General 
Wright. 

"Gen. Zachary Taylor," by General French, formerly lieu- 
tenant-general, Confederate Army. 

"Admiral David G. Farragut," by Admiral Casey. 

"The War with Mexico," by Governor Gorham, of Cali- 
fornia. 

"The Drums of the Army of Mexico," by Gen. R. C. Drum, 
of Bethesda, Md. 

"The Kearnys of the Army of Mexico," by Gen. John W. 
Kearny. 

" The Soldiers of Mexico," by Judge Lander. 

" Chaplain John McCarthy," by the Rev. W. T. Snyder. 

"The Press," by Maj. John M. Carson, dean of the Wash- 
ington Press Gallery. 

Among those present, in addition to the speakers, were : 
Dr. John W. Brannan, Dr. William M. Polk, Col. George A. 
Porterfield, Gen. Robert Murray, Hon. J. J. Martin, Maj. 
John Biddle Porter, Hon. Francis E. Shober, Gen. Francis E. 
Pinto, Commodore W. H. Shock, U. S. Navy; Admiral J. C. 
Watson, U. S. Navy; Capt. J. F. Reynolds Uandis, Messrs. 
Macrae Syxes, Francis E. Laimbeer, William Stone Abert, 
J. Kennedy Stour, De Courcey W. Thorn, Frederick May, 
A. H. Taylor, Lyall Farragut, Charles Porterfield, J. Malcolm 
Henry, P. Tecumseh Sherman, E. Willoughby Anderson, 



Reunions. 119 

Roberdeau Buchanan, Barry MacNutt, Andrew D. Wilcox, 
and William M. Sweeny. 

The Medal of Honor Legion was also largely represented. 

A BRILLIANT ENDING OF A SUPERB BEGINNING. 

The closing function in connection with the unveiling of the 
statue of General Sherman was fittingly celebrated in a joint 
banquet on the night of the 16th. 

It was properly the most brilliant of the militar-social events 
of the Sherman fete week. It was the first time since the 
close of the civil war when the societies of the four grand armies 
had met together to do honor to the memory of one of their 
great chieftains. It was therefore representative in ever}' sense, 
as most of the great living soldiers who participated in that war 
were present. It was in every respect impressive and memo- 
rable. 

The guests were confined chiefly to the members of the socie- 
ties and their ladies — in all, about five hundred — there being no 
building large enough to accommodate more. The invitations 
were arranged in souvenir form. The decorations were superb. 
The walls of the banquet halls were lavishly draped with 
national colors. In the four corners and on the mantels, 
reflected by large mirrors, were great banks of ferns and palms. 
The national flags were united by festoons of laurel, galax, and 
oak leaves, to which were added flowers of every form and line. 

The master stroke of floral strategy was the four great 
shields, each bearing the insignia of the society of the army rep- 
resented, flanked by the standards and badges of its constituent 
corps d'armee. 

The symphony of the scene was made additionally pleasing 
by the soft strains of music from an embowered orchestra. 



1 20 Reunions. 

In the spacious suite of banquet halls covers were laid for the 
small army of guests. 

The tables were bounteously decorated, the American Beauty 
rose adding bouquet as well as rich harmony of color to the 
subdued table lights. 

The following menu and order of exercises engaged the 
attention of the guests: 

(An embossed wreath 
upon which was superimposed 
the badges of the four armies. ) 

Joint Banquet 

of the Societies of the 
Army of the Tennessee, Army of the Ohio, 

Army of the Cumberland, Army of the Potomac, 

on the occasion of the dedication of the statue of 

General Wiuiam Tecumseh Sherman, 

October 16th, 1903. 

The Arlington, Washington, D. C. 

Menu. 

Blue Points 

Celery Olives Radishes Salted Almonds 

Chicken Consomme in Cups 

Filet of Sole, Tartar Sauce 

Cucumbers Potatoes Parisienne 

Lyonnaise of Sweatbreads, Gratin 

Green Peas 

Lalla Rookh Punch 

Philadelphia Squabs, Roasted 

Chiffonade Salad 

Ice Cream, Neapolitaine 

Fancy Cakes 

Coffee 

Sauterne Pommery Sec 

Claret Apollinaris 



Reunions. 1 2 1 

Order of Exercises. 
Invocation Archbishop John Ireland. 

ADDRESSES. 

The Society of the Army of the Potomac 

Maj. Gen. John R. Brooke, U. S. Army. 

The Society of the Army of the Cumberland 

Bvt. Col. John J. McCook, U. S. Volunteers. 

Sherman Mrs. John A. Logan. 

The Society of the Army of the Tennessee Rev. Thomas E. Sherman. 

The Society of the Army of the Ohio 

Sergt. Maj. John McElroy, U. S. Volunteers. 

SONGS. 

1. America. 

2. Battle Hymn of the Republic. 

3. Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean. 

4. Marching through Georgia. 

5. Star-Spangled Banner. 

6. Tenting on the Old Camp Ground. 

Lieut. Gen. J. M. Schofield presiding. 

At the conclusion of the banquet Lieut. Gen. John M. Scho- 
field, president of the Society of the Army of the Ohio, presid- 
ing, announced the order of exercises ready to begin. 

These were prefaced by an impressive invocation by Arch- 
bishop John Ireland, of St. Paul, former chaplain of the Fifth 
Minnesota Volunteers of the Army of the Tennessee. 

GENERAL BROOKE'S ADDRESS. 

The presiding officer then announced Maj. Gen. John R. 

Brooke, U. S. Army, retired, who, speaking in behalf of the 

Army of the Potomac, gave a thrilling review of its campaigns 

in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, culminating at 

Gettysburg. In his peroration he said: 

Since then we have seen the participants in that great war, with their 
sons standing side by side with us and our own sons, wearing the same 



122 Reunions. 

uniform, bearing the same colors, united and earnest supporters of one 
country and one flag — realizing in language the immortal words of our 
greatest captain, "Let us have peace," now and forever. 

COLONEL m'Cook'S address. 

This eloquent introduction was followed by Col. John J. 
MeCook, representing the Army of the Cumberland, who drew 
a spirited piece of word painting of the terrible days of battle 
and campaign, none greater than those in which Sherman was 
the master genius, whose deeds would continue enshrined in 
the memory of his countrymen as long as the terrible strug- 
gles of the civil war were remembered. Concluding, "There 
are hundreds of thousands to-day willing to give their lives for 
the protection of the liberties of their country and flag." 
' ' The glory of the Republic is in the patriotism of her 
volunteer soldiers. ' ' 

MRS. LOGAN'S ADDRESS. 

The tribute of the evening to the personality of Gen. 
William Tecumseh Sherman was paid by Mrs. John A. 
Logan. It was replete with fact and sentiment, referring to 
the opposition he met on the threshold of the civil war by 
officers and politicians, overruled by the superior judgment of 
President Lincoln. She referred to the record made by divi- 
sions, corps, and armies, and grand divisions successively under 
Sherman's command. She gave a striking picture of Sher- 
man and his veterans in the last grand review in Washington 
in the spring of 1865 past the very spot where now stands his 
effigy in bronze, and of — 

their battered and faded flags, worn, ragged, and unkempt uniforms, tell- 
ing the story of their long weary marches in sunshine and storm, over 
rugged mountains, through dismal swamps, over roughest roads and burn- 
ing sands in defense of their country. 



Reunions. 123 

REVEREND SHERMAN'S ADDRESS. 

The next speaker, Rev. Thomas E. Sherman, of the Roman 
Catholic Church, son of onr hero, was greeted with tumultuous 
applause, waving of handkerchiefs, and other outbursts of 
repressed awaiting. 

In the course of his remarks he said: 

You fought for one cause, under one flag, in the one war. [This was 
greeted with dramatic acclaim, "and under one Sherman! One Sher- 
man!! One Sherman!!! " shouted a chorus of trembling voices of fast 
aging battle-scarred veterans.] Yes, he loved you all, the private as well 
as the officer, because you always were an honor to the flag for which you 
fought. But there is a greater triumph for you than your conquests in 
battles, and that is the absolute triumph of the principles you battled to 
maintain. To-day this country is one, because you have so welded and 
united us that we are in perfect accord with your principles everywhere 
* * * and to-night as I stand here after your elegant tribute to my 
father I can not help once more hoping that you will always conquer by 
the strength of your principles as you did in the war. 

The entire address was well chosen and received with tumul- 
tuous applause, in the midst of which a veteran rose shouting 
" three cheers for the noble son of a noble sire," which met 
with a response which made the very edifice quake. 

major m'eerov's address. 

Maj. John McElroy spoke in behalf of the Arm}- of the Ohio, 
giving a retrospect of what the youngest of the four great 
armies had accomplished, particularly an effective sketch of its 
participation in the battle of November 30, 1864, when the 
Army of the Ohio was part of the force detailed to meet Hood's 
army of Confederate veterans. 

GENERAL HOWARD'S REMARKS. 

At the close of the regular order Major-General Howard, as 
former commander of the Army of the Tennessee, was called 
upon by the presiding officer, and with great cheering. He 



124 Reunions. 

paid an eloquent tribute to that wonderful army of volunteers 
which had developed into heroes the native genius of Grant, 
Sherman, McPherson, and Logan. 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 
GENERAL BLACK'S REMARKS. 

Gen. John C. Black, at the request of the presiding officer, 
spoke for the Grand Army of the Republic. He said that great 
body of former volunteer soldiers perpetuates in peace the 
memories of the war, and keeps green the deeds of officers and 
men in the world's greatest struggle for the perpetuation of 
national existence. 

"MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE." 

As the grand volume of voices, united in the pathetic chords 
of the national hymn, died away, so ended the great reunion 
of the four societies of the Grand Armies under aegis of the 
Union reunited. 



SHERMAN: A MEMORIAL SKETCH/ 



By DkB. Randolph Keim, Civil War Correspondent. 



To very few in any generation is it given to render such services as 
he rendered; but each of us in his degree can try to show something 
of those qualities of character upon which, in their sum, the high 
worth of Sherman rested — his courage, his kindness, his clean and 
simple living, his sturdy good sense, his manliness and tenderness in 
the intimate relations of life, and finally, his inflexible rectitude of 
soul and his loyalty to all that in this free republic is hallowed and 
symbolized by the national flag. (Theodore Roosevelt — The 
President's address at the opening of the dedicatory ceremonies of 
October /j, 1903.) 

The great wars of history have produced few heroes of dis- 
tinctive fame. Of those who have survived the casualties 
of centuries, some won greatness and others notable mention 
commensurate with the scope of their achievements. The 
judgment of historians concurs in naming Alexander, the 
Macedonian; Hannibal, the Carthagenian; Caesar, the Roman; 
Frederick, the Prussian, and Napoleon, the Frank, the five 
greatest military chieftains of ancient and modern times. To 

a In the preparation of this memorial sketch, in addition to a personal acquaintance 
with its hero in the field, beginning with the battle of Corinth and the land campaign 
against Vicksburg, and lasting through life, the "column of direction" is "The 
memoirs of Gen. William T. Sherman, written by himself;" and the right and left 
wings of information, official reports and military orders of Gen. William T. Sher- 
man, 1861-1865, and Congressional report on the conduct of the war, the battle of Shiloh, 
etc., by the Shiloh commission, with a few infantry sallies from "Personal recollec- 
tions" and "Transcontinental railways," by Maj. Gen. G. M. Dodge; "Lives," etc., 
and cavalry dashes from sketchists and magazine contributors. 

(125) 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 9 



126 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

this list the chronicles of the world's great events of the 
nineteenth century shall add Grant and Sherman, the Ameri- 
cans. The concerted movements of the latter were so intri- 
cately interwoven with the remarkable triumphs of the former 
that it is difficult to disassociate them without marring the 
whole. Had there been no Grant, Sherman would have 
stood alone, measured by expert military testimony and public 
opinion. 

There is no purpose here to draw the parallel. Sherman, 
in the extent of his marches and character of his battles, 
resembled Alexander. In the versatility of his characteristics 
he displayed a striking similarity to Caesar. 

The family of Sherman from which the subject of this 
memorial sprang belonged to the best type of the Anglo-Saxon 
strain in the composite race of the Republic of the United 
vStates of America. 

ANCESTRAL SCENES IN OLD ENGLAND. 

A voyager approaching the western shore of the German Sea 
between the mouth of the Stour, at Harwich, and of the Thames, 
at Shoeburyness, rests his vision upon one of the most pictur- 
esque regions in all England. Its antiquity, too, lies beyond 
the confines of history. Within recorded time it held great 
Caesar's legionary outpost of Trinobantes. It was part of the 
Saxon Kingdom, the battle ground of Alfred the Great against 
the Danes, the scene of the operations of the Normans, and in 
modern times known under the political subdivisional name of 
the county of Essex. 

On the northeast border of this beautiful stretch of country, 
on the south bank of the Stour, a few miles inside its mouth, at 
the time of which we speak lay the village of Dedham, in the 
parish of that name, in the Colchester division of the Hundred 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 127 

of Lexden, 59 miles northeast of London and 7 miles in the 

same direction from Colchester on the road to Norwich. 

That the Shermans were among its substantial people in the 

tradesman class is assured by record of 1610: 

Edmund Sherman, of this town, clothier (possibly father or relative of 
the emigrant), gave a schoolhouse opposite the church to be a dwelling 
house for a writing master, and a number of children are instructed in this 
charity. 

The clothing industry must have been the thing, for a 
chronicle of the time of King Richard II mentions the town as 
famous for its trade in that line. 

It would seem from the subsequent history of the place when 
Samuel Sherman," the Reverend John, his brother, a Cam- 
bridge graduate, and Captain John, his cousin, sailed out of the 
Stotir for America, they left an "aching void" which years 
increased until that mart of the clothing trade almost ceased to 
have sufficient importance for a place on the maps of the twen- 
tieth century. 

FAMILY ANTECEDENTS IN NEW ENGLAND. 

When the three Sherman kinsmen landed on the shores of 
North America, but fourteen years after the Plymouth pilgrim 
pioneers, Samuel, who is mentioned first, was but 19 years of 
age, two years younger than his brother, the Reverend John. 
The age of Captain John, the cousin, is not known, but it is not 
improbable about the same, therefore between 19 and 21 — 
splendid years for a share in laying the foundation of a great 
nation in a howling wilderness. 

Samuel, with whom we have to do, upon landing, married 
Sarah Mitchell, who arrived on the same ship, and settled at 



"An armigerous name of Sherman, of London and Devonshire, descended from the 
Shermans of Yoxley. County Suffolk, is given byCothren as belonging to the Shermans 
of Lexden, Essex, England, and by the immigrants named transplanted to Stratford, 
Conn., and Watertown, Mass., in America. 



128 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Stratford, Conn. The other two took root at Watertown, 
Mass., where the Reverend John preached his first sermon 
under a tree very soon after arrival. 

There should be no difficulty in accounting for the remarkable 
manifestations of the parent stock or descending generations of 
this particular family in America. Their martial spirit sprang 
from the exposure of their ancestral land to incessant forays 
from Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans during a period 
of eleven centuries. In trade they were associated with one 
of the oldest and foremost guilds of their motherland; in 
religion, by instinct and practice Puritans apparently of the 
advanced type — for early in the seventeenth century an inde- 
pendent congregation had been created in Dedham in defiance 
of the combined antagonism of state and church, then extreme. 

The departure of the three Shermans only two years before 
this event might give credence to the inference that their 
determination was due as much to restraint of conscience and 
religion as a desire to get where there was more J ' elbowroom 
and an opportunity to grow up with the country. 

It appears from contemporary records the Shermans were in 
it from the start. A church fight was the dominating factor in 
deciding upon what particular spot of New World earth the 
founder, Samuel, should plant the parent tree. 

Even surpassing the catching of a band of red savages was 
the management of a white congregation in those days. The 
Stratford end of the "doctrinal" contest seems to have been 
the hottest. It certainly gave Governor Winthrop the time of 
his life. The implacable intolerance of the majority forced 
Samuel Sherman and his friends to seek permission to purchase 
land for a new town, which was granted ( 1667 ) at Pootakuke 
(Great River). Planting began the following year at Pomper- 
vaug, named after that famous Sagamore. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 129 

In the spring of 167 1 an advance party of fifteen persons led 
by John Sherman, son of Samuel, pitched their tents on the 
opening which afterwards became known as Woodbury, in the 
colony of Connecticut. It is recorded that the ladies of the 
family passed their first night in the hollow of a walnut tree. 

As the founder of the race which gave to the American Re- 
public one of its foremost military heroes, it is interesting to 
know of Samuel Sherman and his son John that they were the 
head and front of the new settlement, besides the name of the 
former being associated with Weathersfield, Stamford, and 
Stratford, all in Connecticut, where he died before 1684. He 
had been a member of the court of assistants, or upper house 
of the general court and supreme judicial tribunal, 1663— 1669. 
From this fact we find him referred to officially as the ' ' wor- 
shipful Mr. Sherman." After the founding of the new town 
he became one of the commissioners for Stratford and Woodbury . 

He left two sons, Matthew and John, to continue his example 
as a man and usefulness as a citizen. 

The name of John Sherman, of the first generation born in 
America (February 1, 1650) and founder of Woodbury, was as- 
sociated with the town and colony for forty-four years (1684- 
1728) — as justice of the quorum, or associate count}' court; for 
seventeen sessions as representative of the town; twice speaker 
of the lower house; town clerk twenty-five years; captain of 
militia; first judge of probate for Woodbury, from its organiza- 
tion in 1 7 19 for nine years. 

HOME BUILDING IN WESTERN WILDS — BIRTH OF WILLIAM 
TECUMSEH SHERMAN. 

Passing over a century, four score and six years since the 
landing of Samuel, we reach the birth, on February 8, 1820, 
of William Tecumseh Sherman, of the fifth generation 



130 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

native to American soil. His father, Charles R. Sherman, 
of Nor walk, Conn., was a man of liberal education and 
licensed to the practice of the law. His mother, Mary 
Hoyt, also of Norwalk, belonged to one of the historic 
families. Their marriage took place in 18 10. The groom, 
full of the ambition of youth, leaving his bride, journeyed to 
the then Far West, where his father had important official 
interests, prospecting for an opening. This he found at 
Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, where he established 
himself in the practice of the law. 

The westward emigration of this branch of the Shermans 
was influenced if not due to the territorial claims of the 
State of Connecticut, based upon the Royal grant of 1631, 
to a strip "west to the Pacific Ocean." 

Judge Taylor Sherman, the grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, was named one of the State commissioners on 
the part of Connecticut to quiet the Indian title and super- 
intend the survey and subdivision of the lands. On this 
service he made several trips to the region in litigation, and 
for his labors and losses received title to two sections of land. 

In 181 1 the young attorney, now established at Lancaster, 
returned to his former home, finding a son born during his 
absence. With wife and child on horseback he toiled back 
to his chosen field of life's activity, and laid the foundation 
of a career and a family which became eminent in the prog- 
ress of years. 

During the war of 1812 the Ohio frontiers were exposed to 
all the savagery of English and Indian depredations. It was 
during these perilous times that Charles R. Sherman, as com- 
missary, had ample opportunity to become familiar with the 
courage and cunning of the red chieftain, Tecumseh. Although 
opposed by the pacific views of his wife, the recurrence of boys 



She? man: A Memorial Sketch. 131 

in the family circle gave the father an opportunity to commend 
the valor of the brave Shawnee in the naming of his third son. 
The early border wars produced no finer character, on the 
standard of military skill of the red man, than shown in 
Tecumseh, nor did the civil war produce a finer type of the 
martial genius of the white man than William Tecumseh 
Sherman. 

death's awakening — a foster father boyhood and 

YOUTH. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was appointed a 
judge of the supreme court of Ohio in 1821, and eight years 
after died from labor and exposure incident to the performance 
of his itinerant duties. The departed left a good name, both 
in public affairs and the privacy of home and society, but no 
fortune. The mother, without means and a numerous family, 
eleven in all, of necessity had to suffer the bitter pang of having 
the elder members of her flock taken from her and distributed 
among relatives and friends. 

William Tecumseh, 9 years of age, an interesting, active 
boy, was taken by Hon. Thomas Ewing, then a Senator of the 
United States from Ohio. This worthy man not only cared for 
his charge in his temporal wants, but placed in his way, as for 
his own sons, every opportunity of winning for himself a name. 
How he availed himself of the advantages afforded him, his 
benefactor lived long enough to realize and applaud. 

The Lancaster Academy furnished the educational founda- 
tion of the career of the general of future years. At the age of 
14, as rodman on a canal survey, for which he received a silver 
half dollar a day, he earned his first monev. 



132 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

ENTERS WEST POINT AND THE ARMY. 
[1836-1840.] 

A chance to advance the interests of his charge now opened. 
Having received timely notice from Senator Ewing, young 
Sherman began preparation for admission to the United States 
Military Academy and received the appointment in the spring 
of 1S36. After four days and nights of hard coaching he was 
in Washington, where he passed a week under the eye of his 
Senatorial protector. The event of his life up to that time was 
one morning peering through the rough wooden pailings on 
Pennsylvania avenue at President Andrew Jackson, the hero of 
New Orleans, taking his "constitutional" up and down the 
gravel walk in front of the White House. 

Parting with his powerful patron and pursuing, the usual 
boat and rail route via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, 
on June 12 the great soldier of the third quarter of the 
nineteenth century registered himself in the office of the 
adjutant-general of the United States Military Academy at 
West Point in the new cadet class of 1836. In the same month 
four years after he graduated sixth in a class of 43, all that 
remained of over 100 who had entered. He received his 
diploma and soon after the commission of second lieutenant in 
the Third U. S. Artillery with orders to report at Governors 
Island, New York Harbor, at the expiration of a graduating 
furlough which he passed among the scenes of his infancy, 
childhood, and youth at Lancaster and Mansfield, in Ohio. 

The summing up of Cadet Sherman's academy career is best 
told by himself after the honors of the world's great game had 
been nobly won. 

At the Academy I was not considered a good soldier, for at no time was 
I selected for any office, but remained a private throughout the whole 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 133 

four years. Then, as now, neatness in dress and form, with a strict con- 
formity to the rules were the qualifications required for office, and I sup- 
pose I was found not to excel in any of these. In studies I always held a 
respectable reputation with the professors, and generally ranked among 
the best, especially in drawing, chemistry, mathematics, and natural phi- 
losophy. My average demerits per annum were about 150, which reduced 
my final class standing from four to six. 

Barely missing the honor of ' ' star ' ' graduate at his alma 
mater, he moved on up to the constellation of four stars on the 
field. 

SERVICE IN NEW YORK, FLORIDA, ALABAMA, .SOUTH CARO- 
LINA, AND GEORGIA. 

[1840-1846.] 

Upon his arrival at Governors Island, Lieutenant Sherman 
performed his first duty, drilling recruits, who later (October) 
under his command were detailed as one of four companies for 
service in Florida. 

In December, 1837, Gen. Zachary Taylor disastrously de- 
feated the Seminoles at Okechobee. He was in chief com- 
mand, with headquarters at Tampa Bay. Lieutenant Sher- 
man's company — A, Third U. S. Artillery — was stationed at 
Fort Pierce, Indian River. 

The quarters of officers and men in those days were log huts, 
set on high posts and thatched with palmetto leaves, the inter- 
vals and flanks of the quadrangle being closed with log stock- 
ades. Here the great lieutenant of the civil war began military 
service in the field. 

The Indians at that time were scattered in small parties 
among the everglades. It was the duty of the Army in small 
detachments to run them down, secure them, and send them to 
join the other Seminoles already established in the Indian Ter- 
ritory, west of the Arkansas. In commenting upon this in 



134 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

after life General Sherman expressed the opinion of the wiser 
policy it would have been to have placed these tribes upon 
reservations in their native hunting grounds, of no value then 
nor since to civilization, instead of occupying territory avail- 
able for a large population skilled in all the arts of industry 
and accustomed to the environments of civilized life. 

In November, 1841, Subaltern Sherman received his first 
promotion to first lieutenant, Company G, Third Artillery, 
stationed at St. Augustine. With this rank he held his first 
separate command of a detachment of 20 men at Picolata, on St. 
Johns River, 18 miles distant. Duty in Florida at that time 
was attended with much hardships and more or less danger, 
owing to ambuscades and treachery. In February, 1842, in the 
transfer of the Third to Gulf posts, he took station at Fort 
Morgan, Mobile Point, on the bay of that name in Alabama, 
where he acted as quartermaster and commissary. 

In the following June the Third received orders for Atlantic 
posts from Savannah to North Carolina, Lieutenant Sherman's 
company at Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. 

Life at this post was purely garrison, diversified with hunting 
and social intercourse with the families of Charleston and the 
summer residents of Sullivan Island. In the summer of 1S43, 
after three years of continuous service, having been granted a 
furlough of three mouths, he visited his old home, which always 
held a warm place in his heart, although his brothers and sis- 
ters, it might almost have been said, had been scattered to the 
four winds. 

In November he visited St. Louis, then a town of 40,000 
inhabitants, spending a day at the arsenal and Jefferson Bar- 
racks, which figured in the beginning of his military career in 
the civil war. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 135 

VISITS SCENES OF LATER TRIUMPHS. 

In reaching his post he took the route via New Orleans, 
Mobile, Montgomery, Franklin, Griffin, Lagrange, Macon, 
and Savannah, many points associated with his movements in 
1864, arriving at Charleston two days after Christmas. 

In the early part of 1844, while assisting the inspector-gen- 
eral in special work, he spent six weeks at Marietta, Ga. , dur- 
ing which time he repeatedly visited Kenesaw Mountain, the 
same ground over which he fought in 1864. 

In March of the same year, at Bellefonte, Ala., he was occu- 
pied on the same duty as at Marietta After two months, 
completing his work, he started back to his post on horseback. 
In this journey he had an opportunity of studying the strateg- 
ical positions of Rome, Allatoona, Marietta, Atlanta, Macon, 
and Augusta, over the very ground of his great Atlanta cam- 
paign and march to the sea. 

RECRUITING — MEXICAN WAR. 
[1846-47.] 

On May 1, 1846, Lieutenant Sherman was detached from 
the Third and ordered on recruiting service. Three companies 
of his regiment were already en route for the seat of war. 

In the same month he took station at Pittsburg and almost 
immediately was authorized to open a subrendezvous at Zanes- 
ville, Ohio, about 36 miles from Lancaster, his home. 

About the end of the same month (May) news of the battles 
at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma was received. The lieu- 
tenant determined that a recruiting office was no place for him. 
A private letter from an officer friend at the same time informed 
him that Company F of the Third Artillery, then stationed at 
Fort McHenry, Baltimore, had orders for California. 



136 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

At once Sherman communicated with the Adjutant-General 
at Washington to consider him an applicant for any active 
service that might present itself, adding that he would willingly 
forego his recruiting detail. 

The following month he received orders assigning him to 
Company F mentioned. At the same time he was informed 
from private sources that the company had ahead}- left its 
former station for Governors Island, New York Harbor, where 
it was to take passage for California on a naval transport. 

His orders were received at 8 p. m. By working all night he 
closed his account current, turned over his cash balance to the 
citizen physician of the rendezvous, and made up his clothing 
and property returns, leaving blank receipts with the doctor for 
his successor to sign and forward in duplicate to the Department 
and himself. 

The next morning he took boat to Brownsville, stage to 
Cumberland, and rail via Baltimore and Philadelphia to New 
York. 

That was William T. Sherman at 26; the same as the 
nation always found him in his larger sphere of activity at 
41-45, quick to decide and prompt to act. Arriving at Gov- 
ernors Island he found the company recruited up to a war foot- 
ing — 100 privates, 12 noncommissioned officers, 1 ordnance 
sergeant, and 5 officers. 

The former U. S. sloop of war Lexington, equipped as a store 
ship, was anchored abreast Fort Columbus. The officers and 
men embarked on July 14, 1846. The same day the sloop was 
towed to sea on her voyage of 10,000 miles around Cape Horn. 

SAILING AROUND THE HORN. 

In order to keep the men employed during more than six 
monotonous months afloat, the company was divided into 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 137 

squads, each under a lieutenant by agreement with the naval 
officers, to serve in watches, doing all the work on deck while 
the sailors performed all duty aloft. At the same time the 
men were drilled in the manual of arms. 

The voyage was without event other than the usual visit of 
Neptune over the sides with a huge wooden razor and bucket of 
soap suds for the initiation of greenhorns crossing "The Line." 

In October the Lexington sighted Staten Island, the first 
land approaching the cape, but it was fully a month of buffet- 
ing against adverse winds and heavy seas before the vessel was 
fairly headed for her port of destination. 

CALIFORNIA — QUARTERMASTER — COMMISSARY — AID — 

ADJUTANT-GENERAL. 

[1847-48.] 

On January 26, 1847, one hundred and ninety-six days out 
from New York, the Lexington dropped anchor in the bay of 
Monterey, Cal. 

Upon arrival the Californiaus were in insurrection on land 
and the United States fleet at San Diego. General Kearny, 
with a regiment of dragoons about 1,000 strong, was at hand 
from New Mexico with the first overland expedition. Also 
Captain Fremont with his party of explorers. The country 
was overrun by guerillas. 

Lieutenant Sherman, being quartermaster and commissary, 
had the superintendence of the debarkation of the men and 
supplies and the arrangements of the camp at the blockhouse 
overlooking the town. Monterey then consisted of a line of 
low, white adobe houses backed by a fringe of oak, and a popu- 
lation of 1,000 Americans, Mexicans, and Indians. So perfect 
had been the discipline and health aboard, every man landed, 
carrying his own arms and accouterments, and marched up the 
hill to camp. 



138 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

By a combined movement of the land and sea forces, put 
ashore for the purpose, the insurgents were surrounded and 
surrendered at Los Angeles. 

By seniority of rank, General Kearny had command in chief 
on shore and Commodore Shubric afloat. 

Very soon after landing Lieutenant Sherman was relieved 
of his quartermaster and commissary duties, but General 
Kearny, appreciating his efficiency, at once appointed him aid. 
In this capacity he accompanied his chief on the Lexington to 
Los Angeles. 

Owing to a dispute about command Captain Fremont was 
practically in a state of mutiny. The general, determined to 
put an end to further misunderstanding, directed Sherman to 
call upon Fremont to notify him of his arrival and of his desire 
to see him. In his usual tactful way Sherman mollified the 
explorer, who was fortified by Senatorial influence but not 
Department documents. The two were not long in reaching 
the general's headquarters in an amicable frame of mind, where 
the differences were arranged by Fremont withdrawing from 
the position he had assumed. 

General Kearny having determined to return overland to 
Missouri, an escort of 40 volunteers from the Mormon battalion, 
whose term of enlistment was about to expire, was recruited. 
Under command of Lieutenant Sherman this reenlisted com- 
pany, mounted on mules, with a train of pack animals, marched 
from Los Angeles to Monterey in fifteen days, averaging over 
30 miles a day, beating the Lexington at sea with the general 
on board by several days. It afforded also an admirable oppor- 
tunity to study the nature of the country, a variety of informa- 
tion which proved of great value in the opening of the coast 
and the vast regions toward the valley of the Missouri to settle- 
ment and industry. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 139 

About the end of May General Kearny left Monterey on his 
long overland march to the East, and was succeeded by Col. R. 
B. Mason, First Dragoons, as chief in command of all the 
United States forces on shore, with headquarters at Monterey. 
The post of adjutant-general was tendered to Lieutenant Sher- 
man and accepted. 

The new chief was a veteran of large experience and an 
unflinching disciplinarian. During his long service with him 
Sherman, in the difficult role of adjutant, enjoyed his unlimited 
confidence. 

At this time a controversy broke out over the alcaldeship of 
the pueblo of Sonoma, where about 50 Americans had settled. 
One of the rivals claimed an election by the inhabitants, the 
other, appointment by General Kearny. The new commander 
did not approve of the elective plan. Sherman was called 
in to settle the dispute. With one trusted soldier and four 
horses he started on his mission, being joined on the way 
by an officer and eight sailors from the frigate Columbus. Ar- 
riving at the place, he was directed to the domicile where the 
alcalde was to be found. 

Having stationed his men, Sherman entered. Two men 
and two women were seated at a table. Sherman inquired 
for his man, but was informed he was not there. One of the 
women, however, by her manner indicated the party. Sher- 
man, with pistol ready, advanced, remarking: 

' ' Ydu are wanted. ' ' 

"Where?" 

' ' At Monterey. ' ' 

"Why?" 

"I will explain more at leisure later," said Sherman. 

The owner of the house, springing toward the door, demanded 
to know why he came there ' ' to arrest a peaceable citizen in 



140 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

his house." Sherman, leveling his pistol, exclaimed: "Get 
out of my way. ' ' 

The sailors, hearing the commotion, closed up. 

The other party, becoming somewhat threatening, especially 
of speech, the undaunted Sherman exclaimed, "Shut up, or 
I'll take you, too." 

The deposed was carried to Monterey, but promising peace 
was released. The new alcalde entered the office and organized 
the pueblo. 

At that time (July, 1847) the chief town on the great bay 
was Yerba Buena, of which an American naval officer was first 
alcalde. The place had been surveyed. Lots sold at $16 a plat 
of 50 varas square (linear, 0.914 yards). Many army and navy 
officers and clerks purchased, but Sherman, with his usual 
judgment, declined on account of the natural conditions, which 
he thought were not suitable. The population consisted of 400 
persons, mostly Kanakas, natives of the Sandwich Islands. 

Every mail, though at long and irregular intervals, brought 
tidings of marches and victories in old Mexico. In the mean- 
time, affairs were as peaceful as could be in California. 

The country which had been taken over by Mexico in 1823 
was in the enjoyment of practical independence as early as 
1836. After the arrival of the United States forces and the 
surrender of the insurrectionists there was little to relieve the 
monotony of existence. 

This was a condition \W.y suited to a person of Sherman's 
temperament and ambition. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 141 

DISCOVERY OF GOLD FIRST OVERLAND MAIL. 

[1848.] 

In the spring of 1848 an incident occurred which proved to 
be one of the foremost events of the world's history. At the 
office of Adjutant-General Sherman two men appeared, both 
showing the wear of a rugged journey and acting in a manner 
somewhat suspicious. One of them requested to see the gov- 
ernor. 

The adjutant-general naturally inquired their business. 

The spokesman replied that they had come from Captain 
Sutter on a special errand and wished to see the governor in 
person. Thereupon they were presented to the colonel, who 
also responded to the political call "governor." 

A few moments later the colonel hailing Sherman into the 
room directed his attention to a paper spread on his table con- 
taining yellow particles, apparently metal. 

"What is it? " said the colonel. " Is it gold? " rejoined the 
adjutant-general, adding that he had seen gold in upper Geor- 
gia, meanwhile testing it between his teeth, showing a metallic 
luster, also its malleability. The colonel handed him the accom- 
panying letter from Captain Sutter. 

Adjutant-General Sherman wrote the reply. 

That was the gold first discovered in the Sierra Nevada 
Mountains, which gave an impetus to the westward march of 
empire and civilization unparalleled in the history of any 
country. 

Until then quicksilver was the great metallic substance pro- 
duced in the Sierras of California, the most important mine 
being the New Almaden, 12 miles south of San Jose. During 
the same summer of 1848 these mines and the surrounding 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 10 



142 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

region were visited hy the colonel commanding and Adjutant- 
General Sherman. 

The cry of ' ' gold ' ' had set in motion a rush from all direc- 
tions and among all classes, which was irresistible. Fabulous 
accounts of discoveries and earnings of $50, $500, and $1,000 a 
day by the fortunate ones had so completely turned all heads 
and upturned all business that even soldiers subject to the 
sternest discipline took the possibility of death for desertion 
rather than miss the chance of magic wealth. The yellow par- 
ticles also began to appear at Yerba Buena in the very much 
magnified channels of trade. 

The war with Mexico was lost' in the excitement. Even 
Sherman was sufficiently infected to urge upon his chief the 
duty of visiting the mines for inspection and report to the Gov- 
ernment what was going on. 

The colonel thought so, too. 

While these wonderful occurrences were occupying atten- 
tion another event transpired which was the installation of 
another marvelous transformation. 

A small, somewhat bowed, gray-eyed, sandy-haired, monosyl- 
labic individual, known to all white and red men of the plains 
as Kit Carson, had arrived from Taos in New Mexico via Los 
Angeles with the first ' ' overland mail. ' ' Sherman was sent 
by the governor to meet Kit. The hero, taking the mail from 
a pair of saddlebags, accompanied him to headquarters, where 
the world-renowned hunter and trapper placed the harmless but 
portentous budget in Colonel Mason's own hands. 

This brave man had traveled 2,000 miles through the heart 
of the far western wilds teeming with savage men and ferocious 
brutes. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 143 

OFFICIAL HERALD OF GOLD. 

Toward the end of June, 1848, preparations were complete, 
and Col. R. B. Mason, military governor of California; William 
T. Sherman, adjutant-general; four good soldiers, and a negro 
servant, on good mounts and with plenty of packs, were en 
route, by the usual traveled trail, for the newly discovered 
gold mines. They arrived in due time, via Sausalito, San 
Rafael Mission, Bodega, Sonoma, and the Pata and Sacramento 
rivers. 

At that time [says General Sherman in his Memoirs] there was not the 
sign of a habitation there or thereabouts except the fort and an old adobe 
house east of the fort, known as the hospital. The fort itself was one of 
adobe walls, about 20 feet high, rectangular in form, with two-story block- 
houses at diagonal corners. The entrance was by a large gate, open by 
day and closed at night, with two iron ship's guns near at hand. 

The next day, July 5, the party resumed their journey to the 
spot where the first gold was found, at the Coloma mill, 40 
miles above Sutter's fort, on the American Fork of the Sacra- 
mento River. 

The secret was out. The sawmill and everything else went 
down before the mad rush for golden wealth. 

After a week passed at the diggings proper and new mines, 
the visit was suddenly terminated by the announcement of the 
arrival of a ship at Monterey with dispatches from Commodore 
Shubrick, at Mazatlan, that the war was over and commis- 
sioners were arranging the terms of peace. 

This was timely information, as a few days more of the 
high pressure then on would have found the regiments de- 
serting en masse; instead, the men were now promised an 
honorable discharge by a few days' waiting. 

Colonel Mason, fully realizing the necessity of sending 
positive information of the "find," directed Sherman to 



144 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

prepare a letter to the Adjutant-General at Washington. 
This document was dated August 17, 1848. At Sherman's 
suggestion, a "can" of specimens of the metal, to accompany 
the letter, was purchased at $10 an ounce, the value at the 
custom-house. A lieutenant was detailed to carry the news, 
and a bark was chartered to carry him down the coast in 
time to catch the October steamer to Panama. The officer 
from New Orleans telegraphed the news to Washington and 
followed with the report, but not in time to catch the Presi- 
dent's message at the opening of Congress. The subject, 
however, was made the theme of a special communication, 
which electrified the world even beyond the excitement occa- 
sioned by the news as it had leaked out through other 
channels. 

PEACE WITH MEXICO — SHERMAN A BOOMER. 

[1848-49.] 

In September, 1848, the official news of the signature of the 
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the preceding May reached 
headquarters by courier from La Paz. 

The troops, as promised, were promptly mustered out, except- 
ing one company of dragoons at Los Angeles and one company 
of artillery at Monterey. All business had now ceased and 
prospecting and digging took precedence of everything else. 
Men were earning from $40 to $100 a day, averaging $16, with 
the temptation of better luck at even larger figures. 

In the intense excitement the new town of San Francisco 
began to forge ahead until Yerba Buena was lost in the hustle, 
and Benicia, established as a rival, soon found itself " not in it." 

The contagion had now so taken hold of everybody that in 
the autumn of the same year the colonel and adjutant-general 
made a second trip to Sutter's mines, and also those on the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketcli. 145 

Stanislaus, called Sonora, just discovered, and presenting the 
same conditions as at Coloma and Mormon Island. 

The colonel returned to Monterey, leaving his adjutaut and 
another officer at Sutter's fort, where they formed a partner- 
ship in a store at Coloma with a former clerk of the officer 
referred to. Each of the three put up $500, and in a very 
short time realized $1,500 on their investment. 

BOARDS FIRST PANAMA STEAMER — SURVEYOR — CALIFORNIA 
CONVENTION FIRST MOVE FOR A TRANSCONTINENTAL 

RAILROAD. 

[1849.] 

The arrival at Monterey on February 23, 1849, of the steamer 
California, the pioneer of the Panama route, was celebrated by 
a national salute. Adjutant-General Sherman was the first 
man to board. Among her passengers were Gen. Persifer F. 
Smith, the commander of the new Division of the Pacific, re- 
lieving Colonel Mason, and Major Canby, his adjutant-general, 
to succeed Lieutenant Sherman. 

The time now seemed opportune to Sherman to leave the 
Army. His record as an officer and man was of the highest 
character among the motley population attracted from all parts 
of the globe. He had received most tempting offers of a busi- 
ness partnership. With a view to acceptance, he handed his 
resignation to General Smith, who, however, promptly declined 
to receive it, stating that he desired him to remain as adjutant- 
general of the division. 

The headquarters were transferred to San Francisco. Lieu- 
tenant Sherman, whose knowledge of affairs was most valu- 
able, made all the arrangements. He now found himself one of 
the leading men of the ' ' Coast. ' ' The mail line of steamers via 
Panama was a permanent institution. A naval and military 



146 Sherman: A Memo?'?'aI Sketch. 

commission from Washington had located the United States 
navy-yard at Mare Island and the United States militar} T .store- 
house and arsenal for the army at Benicia. The division head- 
quarters were established at the same place, as also the depot of 
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Soon after headquarters 
made another change to Sonpma. Lieutenant Sherman as 
adjutant-general of the division was relieved, a regular appoint- 
ment having been made, and became one of the aids. The 
openings for business employment induced General Smith to 
encourage several of the better equipped officers to take advan- 
tage of their opportunities, among others Sherman. 

This officer, from his knowledge' of the country, its condi- 
tions, and people, was in particular demand for surveying and 
the plotting of towns, for one piece of work alone being paid 
$500 and a number of lots, from the sale of part of which he 
received another $500. There was no more reliable surveyor 
in the whole country. In one land transaction he received 
$3,000, and for a single day's surveying $500 for himself and 
party. He also ran the line dividing the city of Benicia from 
the Government reservation, sounded the bay, and staked the 
channel up to Suisun. His old friend, Captain Sutter, also 
engaged him to connect the survey of Sacramento to that of 
Sutterville, 3 miles below. 

Upon the return of his chief and staff, Sherman sold his 
instruments and had a general clean up, in which he realized 
$6,000 in two months and returned to headquarters at Sonoma. 

During the entire summer of 1849 the inpour of people b} r 
steamers, sailing vessels, and overland was enormous. The 
establishment of civil government being in order, the military 
government issued a proclamation for the election of delegates 
to a convention" to frame a constitution. When the convention 
met at Monterey Sherman was sent to watch its proceedings, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 147 

in order to keep his chief advised of the progress of events 
toward the formation of California into a State for admission to 
the Union. 

Another important movement in this magically developing 
region with which the name of Sherman was associated was 
his detail by General Smith to Sacramento City to instruct the 
officers of engineers how to push their surveys of the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains in order to ascertain the possibility of cross- 
ing that range by means of a railway. It was generally 
assumed that such a road could not be built along any of the 
immigration routes then in use. 

It was while on this duty that the great national project 
of a transcontinental railway first received his thoughtful 
consideration. 

After his return to San Francisco about Christmas, 1849, a 
vessel from Oregon brought a package of dispatches with an 
order from General Smith for Sherman to deliver them in 
person to Gen. Winfield Scott in New York City. 

OFF FOR WASHINGTON — MARRIAGE. 
[1850.] 

On the 1st day of January, 1850, having paid his passage 
money, then $600, he hastened to Monterey by land to bid fare- 
well to old friends. 

There boarding the steamer, by the end of the same month he 
had delivered the dispatches as directed and was ordered by 
General Scott to carry them to Washington and lay them before 
the Secretary of War. 

There he found his patron and friend, Mr. Ewing, filling the 
post of Secretary of the Interior in the Cabinet of President 
Taylor, and a few days later was presented to the President, 



148 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

whom he had never seen, although he had served under him in 
Florida. 

The veteran received the young officer of artillery with the 
greatest kindness, asked him many questions, particularly men- 
tioning his former chief in California, Colonel Mason, who had 
spoken of him in the highest terms and would be pleased to do 
anything for him. 

Upon his return to Washington from a visit to his mother in 
Ohio, all the preparatory arrangements having been made, on 
May 1, 1850, our lieutenant took unto himself a bride — Miss 
Ellen Bo) T le Ewing, daughter of his patron and friend. The 
wedding was one of the most notable events of the year in the 
polite life of the nation's capital. The father of the bride was a 
member of the official household of the President, who was 
present with his entire Cabinet, and such men of national fame 
as Webster, Clay, and Benton. 

The Wedding took place in the stately mansion, still standing 
opposite the north facade of the War Department, later owned 
by Francis P. Blair, sr. 

After a honeymoon tour of Baltimore, New York, Niagara, 
and among friends in Ohio, the lieutenant and his bride were 
back again in Washington by the 1st day of July, just in time 
to unite in the universal grief caused by the death of the 
President. 

CAPTAIN AND COMMISSAR V — TWO SHIPWRECKS. 

[1850-1S.V5.] 

The name of W. T. Sherman was on the muster roll as first 
lieutenant (Light), Company C, Third Artillery, stationed at 
Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., at which point he was 
ordered to report for duty. 

Upon the passage of the bill which increased the personnel 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 149 

of the Commissary Department by four captains, Sherman was 
promoted (September 27, 1850) to one of the places, with orders 
to take station at St. Louis. 

During the year of service at this post he displayed his usual 
solicitude for the interests of the Government by personal 
inspections of all purchases, especially of beef and the larger 
articles for the Army. 

In September, 1852, he was suddenly transferred to New 
Orleans to relieve a commissary who was under a cloud .for 
alleged preference shown a contracting firm in which his brother 
was a partner. Sherman at once put an end to complaints by 
making all purchases in the open market. 

About the end of the same year an old friend from St. Louis 
called at his office with articles of copartnership for the estab- 
lishment of a bank in California, to be known as Lucas, Turner 
& Co., Sherman being the latter. 

The entire affair had been arranged without previous consul- 
tation . The party was on his way to New York to take steamer 
for San Francisco to open the branch at that point. The 
parent house already existed as Lucas & Symonds at St. Louis. 
The party left the papers and proceeded on his journey. He 
was almost immediately followed by the principal of the firm, 
James H. Lucas, with details about the California branch, 
stating that Sherman's name had been included at the instance 
of Mr. Turner, who was not willing to remain on the coast, 
and desired him to take his place. 

With a tempting income and an interest, he asked for six 
months' leave to go to San Francisco and look over the ground. 
All other matters arranged, in February, 1853, he sent his 
family to Ohio and sailed by the Nicaragua route. 

The captain of the vessel, losing his reckoning, on April 3 
struck a reef 18 miles above the entrance to San Francisco Bay. 



150 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In this perilous position Sherman showed himself as cool 
afloat — or, rather, asinking — as ashore. He was among the 
last passengers to leave the ship and the first to start in search 
of relief. Finding a lumber schooner, a quick sail down the 
coast soon found him inside the "Golden Gate." But troubles 
came not singly. The schooner, "getting into the throat of 
the ' Heads,' " with a strong wind against an ebb tide, shoved 
her nose under the water and keeled over, rolling Sherman 
overboard, mingled with the loose cargo of lumber, ropes, and 
tackle. 

Being an expert swimmer alone saved him. Striking out 
for the stern and clambering over- the bottom, he succeeded in 
perching himself astride the keel, feeling secure as far as sink- 
ing was concerned, the entire cargo being floatable, but the 
sensation of drifting out to sea on a racing tide was anything 
but reassuring. 

Fortunately for the country the master of a schooner, seeing 
the accident, cast off a boat and released the "shipwrecked 
mariner" with the matter-of-fact observation, "This is a nice 
mess you got yourself into." 

The "old salt" dumped him ashore at the foot of the bluff 
below the fort, from whence he footed it up to the Presidio. 

In this predicament the sentinel surveyed him with much 
suspicion, but consented to hand his card to the officers within. 
Their astonishment and mutual surprise ended two shipwrecks 
in a single day. 

Without caring for himself, the captain hastened to the office 
of the steamship company and gave particulars and suggestions. 
The passengers were rescued from the beach by relief steamers 
the next morning. Sherman lost his valise, but saved his 
trunk. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 151 

LEAVES THE ARMY BANKER. 

[1853-1855.] 

Captain Sherman found San Francisco much ' ' progressed ' ' 
since he left it on New Year's day three years before. The city 
was on the top wave of "wild-cat" speculation, prices were 
soaring, and enterprises of all kinds booming. 

The bank of Lucas, Turner & Co. was in full blast, receiving 
deposits, negotiating bills of exchange, and loaning money at 3 
per cent a month. Examination led to an agreement on the 
part of Sherman to return to St. Louis, confer with Lucas & 
Symonds, settle upon details, and return permanently. 

In July he was back in ' ' the States ' ' at St. Louis, where all 
terms were arranged. 

Now came the final step. Returning to Lancaster, a family 
council was held, Mr. Ewiug and Mrs. Sherman being the chief 
parties to determine. The project received their approval, 
whereupon he dispatched his resignation to the Adjutant-Gen- 
eral of the United States Army, to take effect at the end of his 
six months' leave. Accordingly, on September 6, 1853, William 
T. Sherman ceased to be an officer in the Army of the United 
States of America. 

It could truly be said no officer of 33 years of age had ever 
left the military service with a better record for courage and 
efficiency in every sphere of duty. 

With as little delay as possible, having arranged for his 
departure on September 20, leaving his eldest child with her 
grandparents, he took steamer at New York with his wife and 
infant daughter, reaching San Francisco by the Nicaragua route 
October 15. All his old-time comrades welcomed him once 
more in their midst, and old friends in business greeted him as 
one of them. 



152 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

This phase of the life of Sherman is perhaps one of the best 
proofs of the versatility of his genius and the adamantine firm- 
ness of his character. He was not long in getting on to the 
delusive basis of the entire financial and business fabric about 
him. To use his own expression, he "had to drift along with 
the rest toward the Niagara theft none foresaw at the time. ' ' 

Even in this radically different field of action Sherman was 
a success. By the spring of 1854, barely six months after 
assuming the navigation of a financial institution in the midst 
of a sea of trouble, his business showed average deposits of a 
half million and sales of exchange and shipment of $200,000 
bullion per steamer. 

Although he had an associate, he proposed to take no chances. 
He signed all bills of exchange, and fortunately insisted upon 
being consulted on loans and discounts. As a consequence, he 
seldom lost on poor loans. His skill in financial management 
was thrillingly illustrated by the experience he, with others, 
had with Henry Meigs, a bold operator and conspicuous figure 
in the style of money transactions on ' ' the coast ' ' in those 
times. Meigs was always a heavy borrower and an ambidex- 
trous manipulator of debtor and creditor operations. The men 
on 'change had either great faith in or fear of him. 

As the climax approached, which Sherman clearly foresaw, 
Meigs owed the bank of Lucas, Turner & Co. $75,000 to 
$80,000. He determined to reduce this amount and limit 
Meigs's operations to $25,000, secured by mortgages. 

The fearlessness with which Sherman took up the matter, 
when everyone else backed water, was another experience to 
adorn a tale, in fact, one with all the curdling features of the 
wildest romance. 

In addition to the mortgages he also obtained a substitution 
of three acceptances of a Hamburg firm for the overplus. In 



Sherman: A Meihorial Sketch. 153 

return Sherman surrendered to Meigs all his former notes, 
except one, for which he was the indorser. The acceptances 
matured and were paid in the nick of time, for one balmy 
morning Mr. Meigs was missing, as discovered afterwards, 
having taken ' ' French leave " in a sailing vessel for South 
America. a 

This was the beginning of a general crash. The bank of 
Lucas, Turner & Co., through conservative management, 
practically alone survived the general wreck. Sherman took 
Meigs's fine dwelling house and other property, upon which he 
had secured mortgages. On city warrants, properly signed, 
but fraudulently issued, the bank lost $10,000. 

A RUSH NOT IN TACTICS MAJOR-GENERAL OF MILITIA. 

[1855-1857.] 

A storm was brewing in an unexpected quarter. Intimations 
were received from the St. Iyouis house during the winter of 
1854-55. that the bank of Page, Bacon & Co., New York, was 
in trouble. This was a surprise, as the California branch had 
been esteemed the safest on "the coast." The spring of 1855 
brought information that the New York house had failed, 
which naturally started a run on the San Francisco branch. 
After resisting the pressure for three days, Sherman was 
appealed to to unite in signing a paper guaranteeing the 
bank's solvency. Sherman had kept his own bank on a foot- 
ing safe against all emergencies. Therefore, with his usual 

a in the antipodal summer of 1871, while on a tour of investigation of the consulates 
of the United States, the writer was a guest of " Don " Enriques Meigs, again enriched, 
at his palatial home near Santiago de Chile, and also made a cruise with him in his 
steamer yacht up the coast. He was a man of large enterprises, having built a rail- 
road in the Andes at an elevation of over 10,000 feet. He was highly respected in his • 
new land. He paid much of his San Francisco indebtedness, but repined bitterly 
over his enforced exile. He left debts, it was said, aggregating over a million. 



154 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

conservatism, he refused to cooperate without first personally 
examining the financial condition of the institution, as such 
an act would be equivalent to an indorsement. Upon taking 
this stand one of the partners of the concern became very 
offensive. Thereupon Sherman withdrew, followed by one of 
the parties whom he advised to keep out. The firm still in- 
sisted upon signature without investigation. Others refused. 
As a consequence the bank the next day closed its doors ' ' for 
want of coin," a subterfuge for hopeless insolvency which 
Sherman suspected. A general crash followed, but Sher- 
man's bank weathered the tempest and naturally now stood in 
the first rank. 

It is interesting to know that so strong was he in the confi- 
dence of the substantial element of the community that cap- 
italists and others upon being assured upon his simple word of 
honor their money was safe went away satisfied, notwithstand- 
ing heavy bets Sherman would close his doors. The next 
day instead of a run, for which he was fully prepared, large 
deposits were made and matters went along as smoothly as if 
the entire financial world around him were enjoying a full tide 
of prosperity. 

SHERMAN IN POLITICS. 

The following year Mr. Sherman found himself unexpectedly 
drawn into the politics of the city. He had been appointed 
major-general of the Second Division Militia, which embraced 
San Francisco. The municipal affairs were not only corrupt, 
but murder in open day on the public thoroughfares was of con- 
stant recurrence. The "vigilance committee," organized from 
excellent motives, had become as dangerous to the peace and 
security of the community as the crimes which they proposed 
to suppress. General Wool, now in command of the United 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 155 

States forces, had promised arms and ammunition if the gov- 
ernor would issue a proclamation warning the committee to 
disperse. In event of refusal, General Sherman proposed to 
call out the militia and put down the "vigilantes" on the spot. 
It was also understood that the ' ' law and order ' ' men would 
cooperate on the call of the sheriff. For some reason General 
Wool changed his mind, refusing to carry out his promise. 

Sherman finding himself in command of a small army with- 
out arms became disgusted and resigned, declaring that he was 
out of it and in the future would ' ' mind his own business. ' ' 

The winter of 1855-56 found business more unsettled than 
ever. The mines were yielding a steady influx of $50,000,000 
a year of gold, but every other industry was ignored or at halt. 
Men of respectability settled their debts by a very liberal bank- 
rupt' law. The State and city had already in part relieved 
themselves of their obligations by repudiation. 

CLOSES IN SAN FRANCISCO — OPENS IN WALL STREET. 

[1857.] 

The health of Mr. Sherman was not at its best owing to 
asthma. Besides, he began to realize that the prime cause for 
the establishment of the bank had accomplished its purpose. 
He so reported to the parent house at St. Louis. His sugges- 
tions met with instant approval, followed by instructions to 
gradually draw out preparatory to removal to New York. 
Accordingly, in April, 1857, he issued a public notification that 
on May 1 the bank would discontinue business and be trans- 
ferred to New York. All persons having deposits were 
requested to withdraw their accounts; also on the day named 
they would be placed in the hands of a banking house with 
which he had entered into a business agreement to that 
extent. 



156 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

On May 1 the house of Lucas, Turner & Co., which under 
Sherman's management had weathered the oft-recurring 
storms of reckless speculation, regularly closed its doors with- 
out owing a cent and with a name for probity never excelled 
in ' ' coast ' ' financial operations from that day to this. 

On the same day Banker Sherman with his family 
departed for New York amid universal regret. Leaving his 
family in Ohio, he hastened to make report of his stewardship 
to the partners in St. Louis, which now bore the firm name 
James H. Lucas & Co. 

It was at once determined to institute a branch in New 
York, with Sherman at its head. Under the partnership 
title "Lucas, Turner & Co.," he opened his doors at 12 Wall 
street on July 21, 1857. 

The wild operations of ' ' the street ' ' were then at their 
height. A month later the operators were thrown into a panic 
by the failure of a trust company. 

Although Sherman had kept aloof, he could not fail to feel 
the tumble in western stocks, with which he was chiefly con- 
cerned. His house was not a borrower in New York, but his 
western correspondents kept him busy looking after their inter- 
ests. By September the suspension of banks in the city was 
practically universal, and finally led to a general crash through- 
out the country. 

Sherman had so safeguarded every point that his house had 
not only large cash balances in safe banks, but held other excel- 
lent assets. Although intimation had come from the St. Louis 
firm that money was tight, the fact that its head was a million- 
aire several times over in real estate allayed what otherwise 
might have aroused anxiety. The surprise, therefore, was all 
the greater when the newspapers announced that the house 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 157 

of James H. Lucas & Co., of St. Louis, had suspended. This 
intelligence was later in the da)- brought to his attention 
authoritatively by the firm, together with instructions to 
' ' make proper disposition of the affairs of the bank and come 
to St. Louis, ' ' bringing with him such assets as were available 
there. 

When he left New York he had the satisfaction of feeling 
that no one had lost a dollar by either of the concerns over 
which he had had charge on either coast. 

At the request of the senior member of the firm, who had 
assumed all liabilities and released his partners of all responsi- 
bility, Mr. Sherman agreed to return to San Francisco and 
bring matters there to a final settlement. On January 5, 1858, 
he sailed from New York, and reached his destination on the 
28th. Two days later he gave public notice of the dissolution 
of partnership, and called upon all persons indebted to the late 
firm of Lucas, Turner & Co. to pay up or their notes would be 
sold at auction. These, including real estate, amounted to 
$200,000. By July 3, having reached a satisfactory conclusion 
of his efforts, he departed, and on the 28th was with his family 
in Ohio and out of business. 

The high respect in which he was held by his former partners 
caused them to make to him flattering offers of assistance to 
business, but these he declined. 

ATTORNEY AT EAW. 

L1859.] 

His father-in-law, being a large holder of land near Leaven- 
worth, Kans., made him general manager. Two sous, already 
established there in the practice of law, offered him a place in 
the firm. On September 1 Sherman & Ewing announced 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 n 



158 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

themselves ready for business, the senior member to look after 
collections and have charge of agencies for houses and lands, 
while the junior would attend to all business in court. 

During his military reading Sherman had ' ' booked up ' ' 011 
Blackstone, Kent, Sharkie, and other authors. Thinking it 
best to take out a "license,'' he made application, which was 
granted on the ground of "general intelligence." 

The firm had their share of what was going, but Sherman's 
most paying single case, and more in line with his military 
training, was in superintending the repair of the military road 
at Fort Riley, about 136 miles west of Fort Leavenworth. 

This was his second association with a road route toward the 
Pacific, first in the Sierra Nevada Range and now on the eastern 
border of the Great Plains, which would be the initial point in 
the heart of the continent. 

On January i, 1859, Daniel McCook was admitted to the 
firm, which took the name of Sherman, Ewing & McCook. 
Their business continued to grow, but the resources of their 
surroundings were not sufficiently great to compensate for their 
time and labors. Therefore Sherman undertook the opening 
of a farm on a large tract belonging to his father-in-law on 
Indian Creek, 40 miles west of Lea ven worth, for the benefit of 
a grandnephew and niece who arrived in the spring. As a 
farmer Sherman achieved the same success he had already 
won as a ranger in Florida, a garrison officer, adjudicator of 
military accounts in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, a 
commissary at St. Louis and New Orleans, a banker and pro- 
moter in California, a broker on Wall street, and a lawyer at 
Leavenworth. During the winter he had built a farmhouse and 
barn and had broken and fenced 100 acres of land. All the 
young couple had to do was to go to work. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 159 

SUPERINTENDENT OF A MILITARY COLLEGE. 
[1859-60.] 

But life in this sphere evidently was not congenial. On 
June ii, 1859, Sherman, longing once more for army sendee, 
wrote to the War Department at Washington, inquiring as to 
a vacancy among the army paymasters, or anything else in 
that line. He received a prompt reply, inclosing a printed cir- 
cular of a military college about to be organized in Louisiana, 
and advising him to apply. He at once communicated with the 
governor. In the meantime, having closed up his affairs at 
Leavenworth, he returned to Lancaster. In midsummer he 
received a response announcing his election as superintendent 
of the proposed ' ' seminary of learning, ' ' and inviting him to 
come on as soon as practicable, as it was proposed to open the 
institution on January 1 following. 

Accordingly, leaving his family at Lancaster, the superin- 
tendent-elect, after a conference at Baton Rouge with the 
governor, proceeded to Alexandria, in Rapides Parish, on the 
Red River, the site of the new institution. With his usual 
faculty of organization, the superintendent went about getting 
the preliminaries under way. The estate comprised 400 acres 
of fine land and several large new buildings partly completed. 
Imagine one of the two LTniou military leaders of the civil war 
superintending four rustic carpenters throwing together mess- 
tables, benches, blackboards, bricks, etc., of rough material for 
a proposed military academy in the later seceding State of 
Louisiana. 

On August 2 the board of supervisors formally selected the 
academic staff, William T. Sherman heading the list as 
"superintendent and professor of engineering, etc." 

It is not necessary to go into particulars further than to say 



160 She nn an: A Memorial Sketch. 

that through the energy of the superintendent the Louisiana 
"Seminary of Learning and Military Academy" opened on 
time, New Year's Day of i860, one of the most portentous years 
in the history of the nation of American Commonwealths. 

The institution, among other sources of principal and income, 
had been made the recipient of a grant by Congress of a " cer- 
tain township of public lands " to be sold by the State of Loui- 
siana and dedicated to the use of a " seminary of learning." 
To the extent of this chief bulk of its principal it was the bene- 
ficiary of the liberality of the National Government. 

The superintendent had his hands fuh with purchasing mat- 
tresses, books, and all the necessary furniture and equipment of 
the place, keeping the money accounts, directing the steward 
as to the purchase and issue of provender, instructing the pro- 
fessors as to the curriculum, and ordering the cadets as to their 
duties, studies, and military exercises. 

The first term brought together 73 cadets, representing the 
best families of Louisiana and other States of the South. 

In the performance of his duties the superintendent found it 
necessary to spend some time at Baton Rouge during the ses- 
sion of the legislature in order to secure additional legislation 
for the advancement of the interests of the college. Under a 
bill approved March 7, i860, the "seminary" was created a 
State arsenal (central ), with \V. T. Sherman as superintendent. 

AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. 
[I860.] 

At this time matters began to show signs of "unpleasant- 
ness," if not acrimony, in the South against the North. Super- 
intendent Sherman's brother was a candidate for Speaker of 
the House of Representatives at Washington against Bocock, 
of Virginia. In the South, generally, the Republican candi- 
date was denounced as an abolitionist, and as a consequence 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 161 

aroused some suspicion that the superintendent of a Louisiana 
State institution might be "tarred" with the same stick. 
Therefore widespread was the agitation of the propriety of his 
continuance in his place. 

To the credit of Sherman's marvelous tact, in the midst of 
these embarrassing surroundings he had become widely known 
for his manly character and was esteemed by those with whom 
he had business relations. His greatest danger lay among 
members of the legislature, many of whom he had never met 
and whose judgment was based upon the wildest tales of hear- 
say and prejudice. 

The matter finally and fortunately culminated at the dinner 
table of the governor, where a large party of State officials and 
legislators was gathered. 

On this subject the superintendent himself speaks in giving 
an account of this interesting and pregnant incident. 

After some spirited side discussion, in which the relation 
between the superintendent and the candidate for Speaker was 
under consideration, the governor, in the kindest terms, address- 
ing the former, said: 

Colonel Sherman, you can readily understand that with your brother, 
the Abolitionist candidate for Speaker, some of our people wonder that 
you should be here at the head of an important State institution. Now, 
you are at my table and I assure you of my confidence. Won't you speak 
your mind freely on this question of slavery that so agitates the land ? 
You are under my roof, and whatever you say you have my protection. 

It was a history-making moment. Addressing his remarks 
to the author of the inquiry: 

Governor Moore, you mistake in calling my brother, John Sherman, an 
Abolitionist. We have been separated since childhood, and it is possible 
we may differ in general sentiment, but I deny that, he is considered at 
home an Abolitionist, and although he prefers the free institutions under 
which he lives to those of slavery which prevail here, he would not of 
himself take from you by law or force any property whatever, even slaves. 



1 62 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

These manly utterances led to a further request from the 
governor to give his guests his own views of slavery as he saw 
it around him and throughout the South. 

To which Colonel Sherman replied: 

That the people of Louisiana were hardly responsible for slavery, as they 
had inherited it. That domestic slaves, employed by families, were better 
treated than any slaves on earth, but in the case of field hands treatment 
depended on the temper and disposition of master and overseer. " Were 
I a citizen of Louisiana," he continued, " and a member of the legislature, 
I would deem it wise to bring the legal condition of the slaves more near 
the status of human beings under all Christian and civilized governments." 

His words met with the closest attention and evidently 
approval, for at their height one of his auditors, bringing his 
fist down upon the table, shouted, " By God, he is right ! " 

The discussion was prolonged, but no one was in the dark 
about the position of the superintendent of the ' ' seminary of 
learning" on the question of slavery. The institution now 
went along swimmingly, and wound up the academic year on 
the last days of July with a grand ball. 

The professors and cadets separated with the best of feeling 
and an understanding that they would reassemble on the ist 
day of the following November. The summer was passed by 
the superintendent in the purchase of uniforms, clothing, text- 
books, and other requisites, in New York, a trip to Washing- 
ton to secure 200 muskets and equipments complete for the use 
of the academy, and a sojourn during the remainder of his 
' ' vacation ' ' with his family. 

Upon his return to his post, leaving his family in Ohio to 
await the completion of the building designed for his use, he 
threw his whole energy into his work, apparently oblivious of 
the impending storm. 

Upon the opening of the term of 1860-61, 130 cadets 
reported, another tribute to the confidence and efficiency of the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 163 

superintendent. Among them were two sons of Major Beaure- 
gard, a few months later conspicuous for his command of the 
batteries against Fort Sumter in the first overt act of insurrec- 
tion against the Union. 

Although the country was in the agony of a relentless 
national campaign, distinctively drawn on sectional lines, 
Superintendent Sherman went on in his usual routine, attend- 
ing to his own business. The only incident out of the ordinary 
course was a notification sent to him on the day of the election 
that it would be advisable to vote for Bell and Everett, which 
he openly declined to do. 

The fateful day came and Abraham Lincoln was elected. 
The announcement, says Sherman, fell among the people of 
the South like a bolt out of a clear sky. Secession was openly 
and heatedly discussed, but no one ever approached him offen- 
sively to ascertain his views nor ever tried to persuade him 
against his convictions. His opinion "that secession was 
treason — was war " was well known; also that "the North and 
West would never permit the Mississippi River and particularly 
its outlet to the sea to pass out of their control." 

' The annual message of President Buchanan, among other 
doctrines promulgated, that the General Government had no 
constitutional power to ' ' coerce a State ' ' was naturally fol- 
lowed without further to-do by the secession of South Carolina, 
which opened the ball. 

STANDS BOLDLY FOR THE FLAG. 

[1861.] 

In January, 1861, Sherman witnessed in helpless indigna- 
tion, under orders recognized from the two United States Sena- 
tors from Louisiana, the seizure of the United States forts at 



164 Sherman: A Me?norial Sketch. 

the mouth of the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain and the 
United States arsenal. 

The forts were without garrisons, but the arsenal was held 
by a guard of 40 United States soldiers under a captain who 
might have put up a stiff defense. In commenting on this 
affair, Colonel Sherman insisted that it was the officer's duty 
to have defended the post to the death, but — 

up to that time [said he] the national authorities at Washington had 
shown such pusillanimity that the officers of the Army knew not what 
to do. 

The arms were scattered, 2,000 muskets, 300 jager rifles, and 
a large amount of cartridges and ammunition being consigned 
to the State central arsenal, where, as superintendent (as he 
said in after years), he was ordered to receipt for them, thereby 
being made the receiver of stolen goods and these the property 
of the United States. 

The events which now followed in rapid succession were not 
unexpected; therefore he adapted his course to the inevitable 
by anticipation. 

The State of Louisiana seceded early in 1861. After the 
seizure of the arsenal and before the severance of the State 
from the Federal Union, Superintendent Sherman sent a public 
communication to the governor indicating his perfect under- 
standing of the quasi-military position he occupied under the 
laws of the State, a position he accepted when Louisiana was a 
member of the Union and when the motto over the main door 
of "this seminary" read "By the liberality of the General 
Government of the United States, the Union — esto perpetua." 

Recent events [he added] foreshadow a great change, and it becomes 
all men to choose. If Louisiana withdraw from the Federal Union, I pre- 
fer to maintain my allegiance to the Constitution as long as a fragment 
of it survives, and my longer stay here would be wrong in every sense of 
the word. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 165 

DEPARTS WITH HONOR. 

He further asked, in event of the secession of the State, an 
agent be sent to take charge of its arms and ammunition. 
Also to be relieved as superintendent — 

for on no earthh- account will I do any act or think any thought hostile 
to or in defiance of the old Government of the United vStates. 

At the same time he sent the governor a private letter 
explanatory of his views, which he had made known to his 
friends, setting forth with greater emphasis and detail his 
position, giving his opinion that " if this people can not execute 
a form of government like the present, a worse one will result." 

To the last moment he had a thought of the best interests of 
the institution, apart from the unfortunate supervening polit- 
ical conditions, modestly asserting: 

In time some gentleman will turn up better qualified than I am to carry 
on the seminary to its ultimate point of success. 

On the day following, in a length)' letter to the president of 
the board of supervisors, he announced the closing up of his 
business with the institution and that he had written the gov- 
ernor officially and unofficially, and boldly asserted — 

with my opinions of the claimed right of secession, of the seizure of public 
forts, arsenals, etc., and the ignominious capture of a United States garri- 
son stationed in your midst as a guard to the arsenal and for the protection 
of your own people, it would be highly improper for me longer to remain. 

With this matters were closed to the satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. 

About five days later Colonel Sherman received a reply 

"with the deepest regret," giving directions as to turning over 

arms, funds, etc., and closing: 

You can not regret more than I do the necessity which deprives us of 
vour services, and you will bear with you the respect, confidence, and 
admiration of all who have been associated with vou. 



1 66 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

On February i Colonel Sherman, with an evident sense of 

relief, replied: 

Now that I can not be compromised by political events, I will so shape 
my course as best to serve the institution which has a strong hold on my 
affections and respect. 

He also offered to cooperate in placing matters on a safe and 
secure basis. 

The president of the board, in a letter of January 28, went so 

far as to say in a postscript: 

Governor Moore desires me to express his profound regret that the State 
is about to lose one whom we all fondly hoped had cast his destinies for 
weal or woe among us, and that he is sensible that we lose thereby an 
officer whom it will be difficult if not impossible to replace. 

On February 14, the board of supervisors passed resolutions 
of thanks for the ' ' able and efficient ' ' manner in which he had 
conducted the affairs of the institution and accepted his resig- 
nation with ' ' assurances of high personal regard ' ' and ' ' sincere 
regret at the occurrence of causes that render it necessary to 
part with so esteemed and valued a friend as well as colaborer 
in the cause of education." 

The academic board on April 1 also passed a resolution of 

regret which strikes even nearer the man, in words: 

They can not fail to appreciate the manliness of character which has 
always marked the actions of Colonel Sherman. While he is endeared 
to many of them as a friend, they consider it their high pleasure to tender 
to him in this resolution their regret on his separation and their sincere 
wish for his future welfare. 

In a fiscal point of view the sacrifice, calculated in coin, was 
great, but the devotion to principle was beyond coin or calcu- 
lation. The revenue of the position aggregated $4,500 — as 
professor, $2,500; superintendent, $1,000; treasurer, $500; su- 
perintendent of the arsenal, $500. 

During the secession of the seven cotton States, and at the 
time of the inauguration of the President and Vice-President 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 167 

of the so-called "Confederate States of America," February 18, 
Colonel Sherman was in New Orleans closing up his financial 

affairs. 

In his Memoirs he recounts an amusing experience at the 
tea table in a hotel in that city. Colonel Bragg, who won 
fame in the Mexican war, was speaking of General Beaure- 
gard's promotion, when Mrs. Bragg remarked to Colonel 
Sherman: "You know that my husband is not a favorite 
with the new President." 

The name of Lincoln being uppermost in his thoughts, 
Sherman replied that he was not aware that Colonel Bragg 
had ever met Mr. Lincoln, whereupon the lofty dame gave the 
retort: "I did not mean your President, but our President." 
The surrender by General Twiggs of his entire command in 
the Department of Texas, with all the military stores, to State 
troops was the first great event which impressed upon Sher- 
man a keen sense of the expanding seriousness of the drama 
about to commence. 

In New Orleans business seemed to be undisturbed. Ships 
and steamboats were engaged in their usual commercial opera- 
tions. The only marked difference was the Pelican flag, instead 
of the Stars and Stripes, waving over the national, State 
and municipal buildings. On the levee every flag on earth 
was visible except that of the free nation which it was proposed 
to destroy. 

On the 25th day of February; 1861, Wieeiam T. Sherman, 
again a citizen of leisure, took his departure from these scenes, 
proceeding to his home at Lancaster, thus closing the fourth 
stage of his already remarkable career. On his way north he 
kept his eyes about him. He found the people of the South 
defiant and organized for armed resistance to an imagined 
encroachment upon their rights as States and individuals in 



1 68 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

the matter of slavery. In Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, through 
which he passed, he was alarmed at the utter failure to realize 
the magnitude or even the premonitory indications of the 
conflict so near at hand. 

PRESIDENT OF A STREET RAILROAD — FOREBODINGS MET 
WITH DERISION. 

At his home he found letters from his brother to come to 
Washington; also from his friend Major Turner, of St. Louis, 
tendering him the presidency of the Fifth Street Railroad, of 
that city. To this letter he made immediate answer, accepting 
the proffer, and departed for Washington, it being early in 
March. 

The Republican President had been inaugurated. Represent- 
ative John Sherman had been appointed to the United States 
Senate in place of Salmon P. Chase, who had been nominated 
to the portfolio of the Treasury. 

The observant Sherman was quick to notice that the same 
apathy met in the West existed in Washington. It is quite 
apparent at this period had there been men of Sherman's 
foresight, promptness, and action at the helm of political and 
military affairs there would have been little if any war. 

The very indifference to the situation, so palpable, encouraged 
by cumulative degrees the temerity of the southern chiefs. To 
make rebellion more flagrant, Senators and Representatives in 
Congress took particular pains to bandy threats of secession 
under the very noses of their northern colleagues as valedictories 
upon the floor prior to their departure to unite with the gov- 
ernment and congress of the Confederacy at Montgomery, Ala. 

A climax to Colonel Sherman's amazement transpired in a 
call with his brother upon the President. The colonel gives 
the narrative himself: i 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 169 

"Mr. President," Senator Sherman speaking, "this is my 
brother, Colonel Sherman, who is jnst up from Louisiana. He 
may give you some information you want." 

"Aha," responded the President, "how are they getting 
along down there?" 

' ' I think they are preparing for war. 

"O, well," retorted the President, "I guess we will manage 
to keep house." 

To use Colonel Sherman's own words, "I was silenced, 
said no more, and soon left." 

On his way to the Capitol the Colonel, pointing out to his 

brother the appalling danger to the Union, perorated, using 

his own words: 

You have got things in a hell of a fix, and you may get them out as best 
you can. I am going to St. Louis and shall have no more to do with it. 

At Lancaster he found letters from his St. Louis friends. 
He saw the storm; he had sounded the warning; he had been 
treated almost with derision. Much as his heart ached for his 
country, he felt that he could live if the Union could not. 

Col. William T. Sherman was elected president of the 
Fifth Street Railroad, of St. Louis, Mo., on March 27, 1861, 
and took charge on the 1st day of the month following. 

Thus we find Sherman, surrounded by the alarms of war, 
practically rejected in the profession of arms for the protection 
of his country and entering with his accustomed energy into 
the peaceful duties of running a street railroad in a city then 
of wavering loyalty. 

Nearly all the talk was secession and war. A rebel camp 
(Jackson ) had been formed. To resist the swelling sentiment 
were six companies at the United States Arsenal. 

The German portion of the population, faithful to the Gov- 
ernment of their adoption, proffered their services almost en 



170 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

masse and were organized into four regiments of "Home 
Guards." The affairs of the Unionists were represented by 
Montgomery Blair in the Cabinet at Washington and by Frank 
P. Blair, his brother, and others in St. Louis. Colonel Sher- 
man, who closely watched every movement, spent what time 
he had from his railroad duties at the arsenal, being constantly 
in touch with the officers in charge. He found them making 
every preparation for defense of the place and even forming for 
offense. The bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter 
April 12-14 was the first note of real war. The border States, 
except Kentucky and Missouri, followed in the secession move- 
ment of their cotton neighbors. 

CIVIL OFFICE DECLINED — TENDERS HIS SERVICES. 

On April 6 Postmaster-General Blair tendered Colonel Sher- 
man the chief clerkship of the Department of War, with the 
promise of promotion to Assistant Secretary as soon as Con- 
gress met, to which the Colonel wired back, "I can not 
accept," following that laconic reply with an explanatory let- 
ter. The Cabinet took umbrage at his plainness of speech, 
particularly in wishing ' ' the Administration all success in its 
almost impossible task of governing this distracted and anar- 
chical country." The ire thus aroused even went so far 
among some members as to cause them to insinuate Sherman, 
"too, would prove false to the county. " 

The estimate of Sherman as an interpreter of events was 
not so at St. L,ouis. 

Immediately after the capture of Sumter Gen. Frank P. 
Blair sent for him, desiring a conference. Hastening to com- 
ply, Mr. Blair intimated that the Government being mistrust- 
ful of the position of the general commanding that military 
department, he was authorized to make him a tender of the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 171 

post, with the rank of brigadier-general. The colonel, evi- 
dently nettled over his previous treatment, replied: 

I once offered my services and they were rejected. I have since made 
business engagements in St. Louis and therefore must respectful^' decline 
the offer. 

The refusal was a surprise, as men of prominence were clam- 
oring for places for which they were notoriously unfit. Here 
was a man eminently qualified who spurned the offer. The en- 
tire management of Government interests with every promise of 
freedom of action and support failed to move him, not even the 
covert threat that if he did not accept the command would be 
given to another, who proved to be Capt. Nathaniel L,yon, his 
army friend in charge at the arsenal. This refusal again set 
the tongue of suspicion in motion. His attitude was ques- 
tioned. The loyalty of his written utterances in the very hot- 
bed of disloyalty and secession in Louisiana needed no further 
patent of fealty to the Union. 

That there should be no mistake on that point, on May 8, 

1 861, he addressed the Secretary of War, in part and to the 

point: 

I hold myself now, as always, prepared to serve my country in the ca- 
pacity for which I was trained. I will not enroll for three months, but 
will for three years, as an officer can then prepare his command and do 
good service. Should my services be needed the records of the War De- 
partment will enable you to designate the station in which I can render 
most service. 

On the day after, at the arsenal, he witnessed four regiments 
of "Home Guards" receiving cartridges, and L,yon, a man of 
"vehement purpose and determined action," bestirring himself 
preparatory to a decisive step. 

On the day following the " Dutch," as the " Home Guards " 
were derisivety called, moved on "Camp Jackson," capturing 
it in its entirety, nipping in the bud the secession movement in 
Missouri. 



172 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

A few days later he was again urged to come to Washington. 
His substantial friends, Lucas, Turner, and others in St. Louis, 
urged him to comply. 

This time he found a radically changed state of affairs. The 
Government was waking up to the situation. The President 
had authorized the organization of ten new regiments of regu- 
lar infantry, and by proclamation had called for 75,000 State 
volunteers. 

COLONEL THIRTEENTH U. S. INFANTRY. 

On the 14th of May, 1861, Colonel Sherman received notice 
of his appointment as colonel of the Thirteenth U. S. Infantry. 
'After taking the oath he received orders to report to Lieutenant- 
Generai Scott, then in chief command in Washington. He 
had applied for permission to go to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, 
to raise and organize his regiment. The lieutenant-colonel, 
however, being competent for that duty, General Scott pre- 
ferred to have him at headquarters, and therefore assigned him, 
June 20, to inspection duty. Under these orders the colonel 
directed his family to return to Lancaster and "trust to the 
fate of war." He also resigned his railroad presidency and 
began anew the career for which by genius and training he was 
so conspicuously fitted. A large body of volunteers from the 
Northern and Western States had reached the national capital, 
relieving it from immediate danger of an attack. 

These forces were mobilized in two divisions, one garrisoning 
the city, the other occupying the chain of forts and intrench- 
meuts being constructed in a semicircle on the Virginia hills 
from above Georgetown to Alexandria, about 12 miles below. 

Another large force of three months' volunteers had been 
raised in Pennsylvania under Major-Generals Patterson and 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 173 

Keim. The former was advanced toward Williamsport, at 
which point it crossed the Potomac on the first days of July. 
The other was encamped at Chambersburg, near the Pennsyl- 
vania border. While this force was on the march Colonel 
Sherman visited his brother John, who was acting as aid on 
General Patterson's staff. The tendency everywhere was to 
make light of the contest and its probable duration, regarding 
it as a sort of a bluff game in which a bold stand by the Gov- 
ernment would force the South to a compromise. These were 
two positions at complete variance to the views of Sherman. 

On July 4 Congress met in extra session. The Sherman 
brothers returned to Washington. The military career of John 
terminated by taking his seat in the Senate, and that of Wil- 
liam was resumed, preparing for the movements which culmi- 
nated at Bull Run. 

The message of President Lincoln, recognizing civil war 
upon the country, and declaring all thought of compromise at 
an end, also calling for volunteers and money for the reestab- 
lishment of national authority and regaining possession of 
public property, was a just cause for self-gratulation with 
Sherman, and these propositions were in accord with his utter- 
ances ever since his arrival at the north from Louisiana. 

His inspection duty with General Scott lasted ten days. 
During that time he shared in the common annoyance and 
embarrassment of the universal clamor of the press and people, 
"On to Richmond." These shouters failed to understand 
what it required to mobilize and equip a motley mass of men 
in all sorts of uniforms with every caliber weapon. To this 
General Sherman in after years made mention of the addi- 
tional interference in matters, details, and discipline. 

Although advanced in years, being upward of 70, General 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 12 



174 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Scott's complete command of the situation, his skill in plan- 
ning, and his vigor and determination were sustained by the 
views of Sherman. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL — BULL RUN. 

On May 17, 1861, Colonel Sherman was advanced to briga- 
dier-general of volunteers and assigned to command of a brigade 
in the Department of Northeastern Virginia and the defenses of 
Washington, upon which duty he served from July 15 to 
August 28 of the same year. 

On June 30, in the organization of General McDowell's army, 
he was assigned to the command of Gen. David Hunter's bri- 
gade, that officer having been transferred to the command of 
the Second Division. 

This brigade was composed of the Thirteenth (Quinby), 
Sixty-ninth (Irish) (Corcoran), and Seventy-ninth (Highland) 
(Cameron) New York and the Second (Peck) Wisconsin Regi- 
ments of Volunteers, and Ay res battery, Company E, Third 
U. S. Artillery. These regiments he took into the field. The 
Twenty-ninth (Bennett) New York was left as guard at the 
fort (Corcoran). The brigade (Third) of the First Division 
(Tyler) occupied Fort Corcoran and defenses opposite George- 
town, D. C. 

By July 4 two bodies of the enemy were in the field. One, in 
front of Washington, at Manassas Junction, advanced toward 
Fairfax Court House, from which point might be seen the Cap- 
itol. The other, at Winchester, advanced toward Martinsburg 
and Harpers Ferry. The former held its position. The latter 
receded before Patterson's advance to Martinsburg and the line 
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 

Against the best military judgment, in deference to the 
clamor referred to, a general advance was ordered by McDowell 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 175 

from the defenses of Washington and Patterson from Martins- 
burg. 

On July 15 the entire army of five divisions began to move, 
converging toward Centerville. 

On the 1 8th a reconnoissance to Blackburn's Ford across 
Bull Run, without orders from General McDowell, discovered 
the enemy in position. The movement having been checked by 
the enemy's artillery, Sherman received orders to support the 
advance. He was soon, however, directed to fall back to Cen- 
terville, where he remained in camp 19th and 20th. 

These tactical operations finally resulted in the battle of Bull 
Run of July 2 1 . 

In the general movement Sherman's brigade got in motion 
at 2 a. m. of that day, third in column of the First Division, and 
deployed in line on the right of the Warrenton road, in which 
position he remained until 10 a. m., his battery meantime 
opening on the enemy without effect, being out of range. At 
noon, having received orders to assist Hunter, Sherman moved 
his entire force across Bull Run, pressing toward the point 
where the Union troops were at that time victorious. In get- 
ting into position his brigade passed Hunter's division and fol- 
lowed Heintzelman's command along the road to Manassas 
Junction, crossing a small stream and ascending to the summit, 
where the battle was raging. 

In this movement he encountered a body of the enemy 
retreating, which he engaged and pursued toward Sudly Springs, 
where they made another stand. In the movement his Wis- 
consin regiment, uniformed in gray, being mistaken for the 
enemy, caused much confusion. After this each of his regi- 
ments went into action successively, to be in turn forced back by 
a superior force now concentrated in position on the summit of 
a hill. 



1 76 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In the panic which unnecessarily struck the Union troops, 
Sherman, having re-formed his regiments, found his brigade 
alone on the field, except Sykes's regulars, who were in square 
to resist cavalry. Unable to bring his men again into action 
owing to heavy losses and practical desertion by the rest of the 
army, at 3 p. m. he withdrew by the same ford (Blackburn's), 
having several times formed in square, which, however, broke 
"along with the crowd, disorganized, but not very much 
scared." Having received orders to retreat to Centerville, he 
moved to that point, where it was proposed to make a stand, 
but there received further orders from his division commander 
(Tyler) in person to continue to the Potomac, in doing which 
he experienced great difficult}' in maintaining his organization. 

The larger part of his brigade, however, returned to their old 
camp, where Sherman himself arrived the next day. He at 
once stationed strong guards at the Aqueduct and ferries to put 
a stop to his men crossing into the city. After this, having 
restored order, he began regular garrison duty, with drills and 
other disciplining routine. In the battle he had lost 1 1 1 men 
killed, including Lieutenant-Colonel Haggerty, of the Sixty- 
ninth, 205 wounded, including Colonel Cameron, of the Seventy- 
ninth, mortally, and 293 missing. He was in the thickest of 
the fight for two hours, his chief loss being where Rickett's 
battery was destroyed. 

The general of after years often recalled the affair at Black- 
burns Ford as the first time he had seen cannon ball strike 
men and fully realized the power and destructive force of 
artillery. 

Of this first pitched battle between the two armies Sherman 
said: 

It was the best planned and worst fought of any during the civil war. 
A fine organization of excellent material and plenty of courage, but no 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 177 

cohesion, little discipline, and no respect for authority, all of which were 
the very foundation of successful war. Both armies were fairly defeated 
without knowing it. Whichever had stood, the other would have run. 

A VISIT BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN. 

The substantial services rendered by Sherman in every post 
of duty in which he had been placed had won for him a strong 
hold in the esteem of his superiors, as was especially manifested 
a few days (July 26th ) after the late disaster by a visit from 
President Lincoln and Secretary Seward. 

The President, driving up, recognized him. The General 
inquired whether he intended to visit his camps, to which he 
replied: 

Yes; we heard that you had gotten over the big scare, so we thought we 
would come over and see the "boys." 

As the distinguished party approached the ' ' assembly ' ' 
sounded, the regiments quickly formed, presented, and were 
ordered at parade rest. The President made an earnest speech 
from his carriage, referring to ' ' the Bull Run affair, pointing 
out their duty to their country and of brighter days to come." 

The men setting up a cheer, the President interposed: 

Don't cheer, boys. I confess I rather like it myself, but General Sher- 
man says it is not military, and I guess we had better defer to his opinion. 

The President in turn visited each regiment of the brigade 
and made a speech with excellent effect. In leaving he compli- 
mented its commander upon the order, cleanliness, and discipline 
of his command, remarking particularly, which Secretary Seward 
reiterated, the visit "was the first bright moment he had experi- 
enced since the battle. ' ' 

While at the fort a characteristic incident occurred. 

An officer, approaching the carriage, said to the President: 

" I have a cause of grievance. General Sherman threatened 
to shoot me." 



178 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

' ' Threatened to shoot you? ' ' echoed the President, in apparent 
surprise. 

" Yes; he threatened to shoot me." 

Giving the officer a sort of a commiserating gaze, but in an 
aside, the President, so as to be heard, answered: 

"Well, if I were you and General Sherman threatened to 
shoot, I would not trust him, for I believe he would do it." 

The men laughed heartily and the officer skulked away. The 
threat was made by Sherman, pistol in hand, when the officer 
was determined to abandon his post at a time when the example 
of officers was essential to restore confidence among the men. 

With two new regiments assigned to him, Sherman began 

the erection of two additional forts beyond Corcoran and daily 

trained his men in the evolutions of the line, which in fact were 

new to him and which he was obliged himself to learn from 

books. In his own words: 

I was convinced that there was a long, hard war ahead and had made up 
my mind to begin at the beginning and prepare for it. 

The first official report by Sherman of his first battle was 
dated at Headquarters, Third Brigade, First Division, Fort Cor- 
coran, Va., July 25, 1 861. 

TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND. 

On August 28, at the request of Gen. Robert Anderson, his 
old-time captain at Fort Moultrie, S. C, Sherman was trans- 
ferred to the Department of the Cumberland and assigned to 
the command of troops in front of Louisville, Ky. General 
Anderson, in conversation with Sherman, said that a crisis 
was reached in Kentucky, and if backed by the Government 
that State would take open sides with the Union, adding that he 
had been offered command of the Department of Kentucky, 
which included Tennessee, and was authorized to select out of 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 179 

the new brigadiers four of his own choice. He desired him 
(Sherman) to be his chief support, George H. Thomas, D. C. 
Buell, and A. E. Burnside to be the other three. While this 
conversation was going on, the President called at General 
Anderson's quarters. Some doubt was expressed as to Thomas, 
who was a Virginian, but Sherman, who had met him in Pat- 
terson's army, strongly espoused his side, whereupon the Presi- 
dent promised to accept him. 

In the assignment of the general officers of the volunteer 
service, Brig. Gen. W. T. Sherman and George H. Thomas, 
the former the senior, were formally ordered to the Department 
of the Cumberland, Brig. Gen. Robert Anderson, commanding. 
A few days after Sherman turned his brigade on the Potomac 
over to Brig. Gen. Fitz-John Porter and departed at once for 
his new and future theater of action in the West, arriving in 
the beginning of September at Cincinnati en route, where he 
met General Anderson and others in conference. At the time 
of Sherman's appearance on the scene of action in Kentucky 
there were two Union camps of rendezvous — one at Dick Robin- 
son, south of the Kentucky River, south of Nicholasville; the 
other at Jeffersonville, on the Indiana side of the Ohio River, 
opposite Louisville. The legislature was in session at Frank- 
fort prepared to act as soon as General Anderson, commanding 
the department, gave the word. 

The State was threatened by invasion by two forces from the 
direction of Nashville and Cumberland Gap. 

Owing to insufficient strength to meet this hostile movement, 
Sherman was hurriedly dispatched to Indianapolis and Spring- 
field, to confer with the governors, and to St. Louis, on the same 
errand to General Fremont, then in command in Missouri. He 
was not long, however, in discovering that all available troops 
from the States named were being pushed east to join General 



i8o • Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

McClellan, and those in Missouri were claimed necessary to look 
after pending movements, after which ' ' attention would be 
given down the Mississippi." 

In the general's words, " No one seemed to think of the inter- 
vening link covered by Kentucky." 

Failing to obtain help in this direction, a dispatch from Gen- 
eral Anderson hurried him back to Louisville, as matters were 
pressing. In response he departed, sad and anxious, the same 
day. 

The legislature, forced to act in advance of the prearranged 
plan, determined to remain" in the Union. The military part of 
the programme was inadmissible, owing to lack of force neces- 
sary to make an advance reasonably assuring of success. 

One column of the enemy had crossed into Kentucky, mov- 
ing as far as Bowling Green, which was fortified, with a division 
advanced toward Louisville. Another took position at Somerset, 
and still another, on September 7, was in position at Columbus. 

To offset these movements, General Grant from Cairo occu- 
pied Paducah on September 6, and General Sherman was 
ordered to collect what troops he could and occupy Muldraughs 
Hill, on the railroad, a former camp of instruction, back of 
Elizabethtown, in advance of the enemy, as that was the stra- 
tegic point of their movement against Louisville. With his 
usual celerity Sherman in a single night crossed the Ohio 
with the Jeffersonville force (Rousseau's Legion, 1,000 strong), 
and by daybreak had reached Lebanon Junction, 26 miles from 
Louisville, whence he marched part of his men to Muldraughs 
Hill by fording Salt River, the railroad bridge having been 
burned. He had also a small body of Louisville home guards. 
Reenforced by two regiments, he advanced his entire camp to 
the summit of the hill without awaiting the completion of the 
bridge. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 



ISI 



The enemy had not yet crossed Green River, but were still 
fortifying Bowling Green as a base for a systematic advance to 
regain Kentucky. 

By October i Sherman had massed a division of two bri- 
gades, with which he proposed to move against the enemy. 

IN COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND. 

On October 5 he was summoned to Louisville by General 
Anderson, who was threatened with a mental and physical col- 
lapse. On October 8 that officer relinquished authority, which 
act, by virtue of seniority, and against his wish, placed General 
Sherman in command' of the Department of the Cumberland. 

In his earliest communications with the War Department 
Sherman renewed his desire to remain in a subordinate posi- 
tion and received assurances that General Buell would shortly 
arrive from California and be sent to relieve him. 

The raising of troops in Kentucky was slow, as the young 
men favored the South and the elders desired to remain neutral. 

Being obliged to operate on divergent lines as the part of 
prudence, Sherman concentrated his forces at his two camps — 
Dick Robinson and Elizabethtown (Muldraugh's Hill) — with 
G. H. Thomas in command of the former and A. McD. McCook 
of the latter, with an advance at Nolin Creek, 52 miles from 
Louisville toward the enemy's position at Bowling Green. At 
one time a concentrated movement toward Frankfort between 
Sherman's two camps was actually in motion, but was checked 
by strategic skill. 

The national authorities at this critical moment in the cen- 
tral zone of operations were so engrossed with Fremont's affairs 
in Missouri and General McClellan's at Washington that the 
real key to the situation in Kentucky was held in abeyance. 

About the middle of October General Sherman received 



1 82 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

word from the Secretary of War (Simon Cameron), then at St. 
Louis unraveling matters in that department, that he would 
visit him on his way back to Washington. As a result of the 
first part of this programme General Fremont was relieved by 
General Hunter, and later he by General Halleck. 

After the usual preliminaries of such a meeting, which took 
place at a hotel in Louisville, the Secretary of War remarked: 
"Now, General Sherman, tell us of your troubles." 

The General declining, owing to so many persons being 
present, the Secretary continued: "The}' are all friends. All 
members of my family. You may speak your mind freely and 
without restraint. ' ' 

Whereupon the General locked the door against intrusion and 
proceeded. He explained in his customary terse and forceful 
way the intricacies of the Kentucky situation — troops raised in 
the neighboring States on the north were sent east and west, 
leaving his strength powerless for invasion and a temptation to 
the enemy, who, if he wished, might march to Louisville — to 
which the Secretary replied: 

"You astonish me! Our informants, the Kentucky Senators 
and Representatives, claim that they have in Kentucky plenty 
of men; all they want are arms and money." 

To which Sherman responded: "That is not true. The 
young men are arming in open day and going to the rebel 
camps, with good horses and weapons. And as to arms, 
General Anderson was promised, in Washington, 40,000 of the 
best Springfield muskets. Instead he received 12,000 Belgian 
muskets, which the governors of Ohio and Pennsylvania had 
refused, but which were adjudged good enough for Kentucky. 
The colonels raising regiments in this State scorned to receive 
them. ' ' 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 183 

This statement was confirmed by several influential Ken- 
tuekians present, who added that "no man who owned a slave 
or a mule in Kentucky could be trusted." 

The Secretary, alarmed at this exhibit, asked the adjutant- 
general (Thomas) wrth him whether there were any unassigned 
troops. He mentioned Negley's Pennsylvania brigade at Pitts- 
burg and other regiments en route for St. L,ouis. These were 
ordered to Sherman on the spot and others were promised, 
coupled with a remark that more time and assistance would be 
given to affairs in Kentucky. 

THE "INSANE" INCIDENT. 

Then, pointing to a map of the United States, Sherman 
described what it meant to subdue the South. McClellan on 
the left had a frontage of 100 miles, Fremont on the right about 
the same, whereas he in the center was responsible for 300 miles 
from Big Sandy to Paducah; McClellan had 100,000, Fremont 
60,000, while he had but 18,000 men. The General then 
pointed out that he should have for defense 60,000 and for 
offense 200,000 before his task was finished. 

"Great God," exclaimed the Secretary, "where are they to 
come from?" 

Sherman replied that there were plenty of men in the North 
and Northwest ready, who had in fact proffered their services, 
but were refused as not needed. 

The entire proceeding was friendly, Sherman feeling that 
he had convinced the Secretary ' ' that a great war was before 
us, in fact upon us." 

The Secretary directed the adjutant-general to make notes, 
' ' so that the request may be attended to on reaching Wash- 
ington." 



184 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The Secretary was called upon by Union citizens, and the 
next day departed, accompanied by Sherman as far as Frank- 
fort, the former proceeding to Washington and the latter to his 
camp. 

By October 22 Negley's brigade and a Minnesota and Indiana 
regiment arrived and were disposed. But no other troops were 
received prior to Sherman's departure from Kentucky. 

On arriving at Washington the Secretary called upon the 
Adjutant-General to submit the memoranda taken during his 
tour, in which he referred to General Sherman's "insane 
request for 2oq,ooo men." 

This observation, finding its way into print, was spread broad- 
cast. Before the publication had come to Sherman's attention 
he had sent to the Adjutant- General, at Washington, a clear 
and comprehensive statement of his available force, the arrival 
of the troops promised, and the establishment of an advanced 
guard toward Loudon, which was threatened. He repeated his 
explanations respecting operations, adding: 

You know my views; that this great center of our field is too weak, 
far too weak, and I have begged and implored till I dare not say more. 
The Kentucky legislature has provided money for the organization of 
Kentucky volunteers, and I have endeavored to cooperate with them to 
hasten the formation of the corps, but have no arms or clothing. 

He closed this communication: 

I again repeat that our force here is out all proportion to the impor- 
tance of the position. Our defeat would be disastrous to the nation, and 
to expect new men who never bore arms to do miracles is not right. 

In the meantime the story of "insanity." based solely upon 

his demand for 200,000 men for operations in the central zone, 

filled the newspapers East and West. In the General's own 

words, after all was over: 

My position was simply intolerable, and it is probable I resented the 
cruel insinuation with language of intense feeling. [I] received no 
orders, no reenforcements, not a word of encouragement or relief. 



Slier man: A Memorial SketcJi. 185 

General McClellan, having been made commander in chief of 

all the armies in the field, called for a report of conditions in 

the Department of the Cumberland, which was transmitted by 

Sherman November 4, covering in detail the position of his 

troops, the plans, as far as known, of the enemy, and the 

requirements of the situation better than anyone knew it then, 

and with marvelous accuracy, as the best military critics and 

the world now concede. He closed: 

I am told that my estimate of troops needed for this line — 200,000— has 
been construed to my prejudice, and therefore leave that for the future. 
This is the great center on which our enemies can concentrate whatever 
force is not employed elsewhere. 

Having his troops well in hand for an}- contingency, on 
November 6, in response to a telegram to report daily the situ- 
ation to the Adjutant-General, he showed that the country was 
full of spies, and forwarded samples of captured letters, closing 
with unfeigned sarcasm: 

Do not conclude, as before, that I exaggerate the facts. They are as 
stated, and the future looks as dark as possible. It would be better if 
some man of sanguine mind were here, for I am forced to order according 
to my convictions." 

INSPECTION DUTY COMMAND AT BENTON BARRACKS. 

[1S61-6-2.] 

Maj. Gen. D. C. Buell relieved General Sherman of the 
command of the Department of the Cumberland on November 15, 
the latter having been transferred to the Department of the Mis- 
souri, with orders to report in person to Maj or- General Halleck 
at St. Louis. 

a After the war Gen. Thomas J. Wood, then in command of the district of Vicksburg. 
prepared a public statement of the interview with the Secretary of War, at I,ouisville, 
which led to the "insanity " incident. General Sherman refers to it in his Memoirs: 
" I did not then deem it necessary to renew a matter which had been swept into ob- 
livion by the war itself, but as it is evidence by an eye-witness it is worthy of inser- 
tion." This statement shows the keen insight of Sherman at that time. 



1 86 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In speaking of himself at this time the General said: 

I could not hide from myself that many of the officers and soldiers sub- 
sequently under my command looked at me askance and with suspicion. 

On November 23 he was placed on inspection duty, with 
orders to visit the camps at Sedalia, Mo., and to take command 
in a certain contingency, which transpired. The newspapers, 
harping upon his "insanity," paralyzed his efforts. In his own 
words: " In spite of myself, they tortured from me some words 
and acts of imprudence. ' ' 

On November 28 he received a dispatch: 

Mrs. Sherman is here. You will therefore return to this city and report 
the condition of the troops you have examined. 

The arrival of Mrs. Sherman, almost distracted; her husband's 
recall from the Sedalia command, and their return to Lancaster; 
the General on twenty days' leave, notwithstanding the scarcity 
of general officers, not only increased the intensity, but seemed 
confirmatory of the ' ' insanity ' ' stories put in circulation and 
sedulously kept up. 

As said the General after, with naive irony: 

So Mrs. Sherman and I returned to Lancaster, where I was born, and 
where I supposed I was better known and appreciated. 

On December 18 General Halleck, in a letter to Sherman at 

his home, stamped the lie on these canards in these specific 

terms: 

The newspaper attacks are certainly shameless and scandalous. Your 
movement of the troops was not countermanded by me because I thought 
it was an unwise one in itself, but because I was not then ready for it. I 
intended to concentrate my forces on that line, but I wished the move- 
ment delayed until I could determine upon a better position.' After 
receiving Colonel McPherson's report I made precisely the location you 
had ordered. 

Upon General Sherman's return he was placed in temporary 
charge of a camp of instruction (December 23, 1861-February 
14, 1862) of 15,000 men at the post of Benton Barracks. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 187 

Here he gave his personal attention to matters, so that when an 
order came to move a regiment or detachment he did so imme- 
diately. As a further evidence of General Halleck's confidence, 
he was assigned to a command in western Kentucky second 
only in importance in the department, adding in a letter to 
General Ewing, " I have the fullest confidence in him." 

THE MOVEMENT WHICH BROKE THE BACK OF THE REBELLION. 

During midwinter of 186 1-2, in one of their conversations 
on the proposed plans of operations, General Halleck, calling 
Sherman's attention to a map on the table before them, said: 
" Here is the line; how will you break it? " 

"Physically," replied Sherman, " by a perpendicular. " 

"Where is the perpendicular?" 

' ' The line of the Tennessee River. ' ' 

General Halleck, taking a pencil and suiting the action to the 
word, said: " There is the line; we must break it." 

The capture of Forts Henry and Donelson by Grant, which 
followed, was the strategic feature of that first movement origi- 
nally suggested by Grant from Cairo. 

General Halleck's plan, following up this first line through 
Columbus and Bowling Green, crossing the river at Henry and 
Donelson, was to push on to the second, between Memphis and 
Charleston. Opposition having intervened at Nashville, 
Sherman now appeared as an actor on the scene. 

AT PADUCAH, KV. 
[FEBRIARV 17-MARl'H 10, 1862.] 

Upon the movement of General Grant from Paducah up the 
Tennessee River on February i, 1862, and capture of Fort 
Henry on the 6th but before the fall of Donelson, General 
Sherman received orders to repair immediately to Paducah and 



1 88 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

assume command of that post. He left the same day. Upon 
his arrival he received orders from General Halleck ' ' send 
General Grant everything you can spare from Paducah and 



Smithland." The next day news flashed to the country that 
Fort Donelson with a garrison of 12,000 men had surrendered 
to Grant. The main body of the enemy fell back on Nashville, 
Island No. 10, and the line of the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad. 

' ' INSANITY ' ' CHANGED FRONT. 

The extent of the struggle now fairly on, according to the 
original conceptions of General Sherman, by this time began 
to penetrate the perceptions of his detractors. 

By the end of February, after civil war had been progressing 
cumulatively for ten months, scarcely making a beginning of 
success and certainly without the end in sight, the military 
forces of the United States in the Mississippi Valley alone had 
assumed a form of organization in four grand armies in the 
field, the Army of the Ohio, Buell, in Kentucky; of the Ten- 
nessee, Grant at Forts Henry and Donelson, winner of the first 
substantial victories; of the Mississippi, Pope, and Southwestern 
Missouri, Curtis, which as a whole were commanded by General 
Halleck from St. Louis, Mo. 

In the handling of these troops on the ground, General 
Sherman, who but three months before had been rated 
"insane," was stationed at Paducah "to expedite and facilitate 
the important operations in progress up the Tennessee and 
Cumberland rivers." 

By February 16 the Army of the Tennessee had scored two 
of the greatest and most decisive victories yet achieved by the 
national Arms. 

The enemy was forced out of his fortified camp at Bowling 
Green, retreating, pursued through Nashville. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 189 

The movements which followed Donelson, and had their 
culmination at Shiloh, were begun by General Grant sending 
one of his divisions to Clarksville, 50 miles above Donelson 
toward Nashville, which he a week later joined in person in 
order to be in immediate touch with his advance. 

General Halleck, at St. Louis, ' ' must have felt that his armies 
were getting away from him," as he began sending dispatches 
to Sherman, at Paducah, to be forwarded to Grant at the front. 

These related to movements up the Tennessee River, the 
destruction of railroad bridges and the railroad, particularly at 
Corinth, Jackson and Humboldt, thus severing connection 
between the Mississippi and the Tennessee. Having accom- 
plished these objects Grant returned to Danville and moved 
upon Paris. The next day some of these orders were counter- 
manded from St. Louis, and two days later still to Grant 
through Sherman, " Why do you not obey my orders and 
report strength and position of your command? " As General 
Sherman puts it — 

Halleck was evidently working himself into a passion, but he was too 
far from the seat of war to make due allowance for the actual state of 
facts. General Grant had done so much that General Halleck should have 
been patient. 

FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN GRANT AND SHERMAN BEGUN. 

From this moment the careers of the two foremost captains 
of the civil war, Grant and Sherman, became inseparably 
interwoven, in the progression of events which elicited from 
their country and countrymen their highest confidence and 
admiration. 

At Paducah Sherman was a tower of strength to the officers 
and men at the front, laying the lines of one of the most des- 
perate and effective battles of the war. He was sending boats 
with dispatches and troops in all directions. 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 13 



190 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

It was evident from, the restricted field of operations of the 
two hostile armies that a clash was not far distant. 

Out of the new troops arriving at Paducah Sherman took 
his usual precaution of mobilizing a division for himself for 
emergencies, particularly when ordered into the field, which 
had been promised him by Halleck, who now began to fully 
comprehend the greatness of the man and soldier. 

COMMANDS A DIVISION. 
[1862.] 

On March 9 Sherman was assigned to command the First 
Division of the Army of the Tennessee till April 4, when it 
became the Fifth Division, and subsequently again the First 
Division of the same army. 

On March 10 he received his expected order and promptly 
embarked his division of four brigades of infantry, three bat- 
teries of artillery, and two battalions and two detachments of 
cavalry, landing it a few miles above Fort Henry to await the 
rendezvous of the Army. He reached Savannah on the 14th. 
From this point he was ordered by General Smith to proceed 
up the river to the extreme advance landing at some point near 
Eastport, and from there make an attempt to break the Memphis 
and Charleston Railroad in the vicinity of Burnsville, Miss. 

In passing Pittsburg Landing, a village on high ground on 
the left bank of the Tennessee River, on his advance movement, 
he learned that a regiment of the enemy's cavalry had been 
stationed there, as it was the usual landing place for the people 
about Cornith, about 22 miles distant in a southwesterly direc- 
tion. He recommended the establishment of a strong post at 
that point and proceeded up the stream as ordered. At East- 
port and Chickasaw he found the enemy in some force. Upon 
this discovery he dropped back a few miles, landing his division 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 191 

at the mouth of Yellow Creek, and struck for Burnsville, on the 
railroad which he proposed to destroy. 

The incessant rains and swollen streams preventing the pro- 
jected movements of his cavalry, he again embarked and dropped 
down to Pittsburg Lauding to renew the movement from there, 
where he arrived March 14, finding Hurlbut's division present, 
but not landed. Reporting these facts to his immediate com- 
mander, C. F. Smith, he received instructions to land his divi- 
sion and that of Hurlbut and make a lodgment on the railroad. 

On March 16 Sherman, having part of his men ashore, made 
a reconnoissance 11 miles on the Corinth road to Monterey, or 
Pea Ridge, where he found the enemy in force, but who 
decamped upon his approach. Col. J. B. McPherson, of Gen- 
eral Halleck's staff, another of the future commanders of the 
Army of the Tennessee, accompanied this movement. Return- 
ing to the river, having chosen the site for his camp, he disem- 
barked his division. 

At Monterey Sherman learned that trains were concentrat- 
ing masses of troops from all directions at Corinth. He at 
once detected in this the purpose of the enemy to bring on a 
battle in that vicinity. Accordingly, on the 18th, Hurlbut's 
division was advanced 1% miles, to the crossing of the Corinth 
and Hamburg and Savannah roads. 

On the 19th Sherman, with his whole division, took post 2j^ 
miles inland from the landing, in the extreme advance, covering 
the roads to Purdy and Corinth and a junction on the Hamburg 
road near Lick Creek Ford, where another joined the Hamburg 
road. 

The grounds selected for his camps lay just behind a stream 
called Shiloh Branch — McDowell's brigade on the right, with 
his right on Owl Creek, at the bridge where the Hamburg and 
Purdy road crossed the creek; Buckland's brigade next in line 



192 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

to the left, with his left at Shiloh Church; Hildebrand's brigade 
to the left of the church; Stuart's brigade, detached from 
others, to the extreme left of the line, at the point where the 
Savannah and Hamburg and the Purdy and Hamburg roads 
united just before the}' crossed Lick Creek. 

The camps of Sherman and Prentiss formed the front line 
(about 2]/<i miles from Pittsburg Landing), and extended in a 
semicircle from Owl Creek on the right to Lick Creek on the 
left. One company from each regiment was advanced as a 
picket 1 mile in front of regimental camps. 

The five divisions of the army were concentrated in this 
vicinity. Gen. C. F. Smith, who was in general command, 
was ill at Savannah. Sherman kept his pickets well advanced 
and vigilant, as all reports convinced him that the rebels were 
concentrating at Corinth for attack. 

On March 17, Gen. U. S. Grant was restored to the com- 
mand of all troops operating ' ' up ' ' the Tennessee. Sherman 
argued, as an army of invasion, a post should be held on the 
railroad, thus separating the enemy of the interior from his 
force at Memphis and on the Mississippi River. 

The position of the national troops was topographically 
strong, with Snake Creek on the right, Owl Creek in front, 
and Lick Creek on the left. The space on the battle front was 
about 2 miles. 

On April 1 the enemy's cavalry manifested a degree of bold- 
ness which convinced Sherman that there was something 
behind them. On Friday, April 4, their cavalry in a spirited 
attack overpowered and captured a picket guard of one first 
lieutenant and seven men 1 Y /o miles in advance of his center on 
the Corinth road. The cavalry of the division and a company 
of Colonel Buckland's Fourth Brigade dispatched to their relief 
was followed by a regiment and after by his entire brigade for 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 193 

a distance of 4 miles, when the cavalry in advance encountered 
artillery. Withdrawing to his lines he reported the fact to 
General Grant at Savannah. Hitherto no infantry or artillery 
had been displayed. 

The next day the enemy's cavalry again appeared on his 
front manifesting great boldness, which led to increased 
vigilance. 

The Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Maj. Gen. 
U. S. Grant, on April 5 was composed of six divisions, the 
fifth commanded by Brig. Gen. W. T. Sherman. 

On the following day, Sunday, April 6, says Sherman: 

I got breakfast, rode along my lines, and about 400 yards to the front 
of Appier's regiment received from the bushes in the ravine, left front, a 
volley, which killed my orderly. 

He also saw as far as his vision reached the enemy advanc- 
ing rapidly in order of battle from the direction of Monterey. 

His entire division was in line in front of its camps ready to 
receive the impact. He gave orders to his batteries to reserve 
their fire until the enemy crossed the ravine of Shiloh Branch 
and began the ascent of the hill. 

He then hastily dispatched his aids or orderlies, whichever 
nearest, to notify the other division commanders, McClernand, 
W. H. L. Wallace, L,ew Wallace, Hurlbut, and Prentiss, in 
order of designating numbers. 

In a few moments his advance guard was crowded back on 
his main body and the battle of Shiloh was on, lasting two 
days, realizing in every sense Sherman's famous epigram, 
" War is hell." 



194 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

SHERMAN AT SHILOH. 
[APRIL 6 A>D 7, 1862.] 

The part of Sherman, in which he figured so conspieuonsly as 
the tactician in the maneuvres leading up to the clash and the 
fighter in the stubborn onset of contending Americans, may be 
briefly outlined. 

It was about 7 a. m. when Sherman descried the glistening 
bayonets of heavy masses of infantry on the left beyond the 
point at which he was fired upon. He was now convinced of 
the design to press a general engagement. 

At the opening of the battle Sherman's division occupied 
position. 

First Brigade. — Colonel McDowell on the extreme right, 
guarding the bridge on the Purdy road over Owl Creek. 

Second Brigade. — Colonel Stuart on the extreme left, guard- 
ing the ford over Lick Creek. 

Third Brigade. — Colonel Hildebrand on the left of the Cor- 
inth road, its right resting on Shiloh Meeting House. 

Fourth Brigade. — Colonel Buckland on the right of the Cor- 
inth road, its left resting on the Shiloh Meeting House. 

Taylor's battery in position at Shiloh Meeting House and 
Waterhouse's battery on a ridge to the left, with a front fire 
over the open ground between Mungen's (Fifty-seventh Ohio) 
and Appier's (Fifty-third Ohio) regiments. The cavalry of 
the division (Dickey's — Fourth Illinois), on account of the 
heavy musketry fire, occupied a large open field to the left 
under cover near Shiloh Meeting House, and was moved accord- 
ing to circumstances from 8 a. m. Sunday until 4 p. m. Mon- 
day, when it was brought into requisition for pursuit. 



S. Doc. 320—o8-2. 




BATTLE OF SHILOH, TENN. 

The positions of the troops under Brig. Gen. W. T. Sherman at its beginning and close. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 195 

THE BATTLE. 

The lines of Sherman, supported by McClernand's division, 
were well posted to meet the brunt of the two days' work at 
Shiloh. 

The battle was opened by a battery of the enemy in the 
woods on Sherman's right front throwing shells into his 
camp. Simultaneously the masses of infantry advanced directly 
upon his division front, the Third ( Hildebrand's) and Fourth 
(Buckland's) Brigades becoming engaged at 7.30 a. m. This 
force, strengthened by Raith's brigade of the First Division, 
held its position until 10 a. m. 

The importance of Shiloh Meeting House as the key to suc- 
cess led Sherman to make the most desperate efforts to main- 
tain his position. 

At 10 a. m. the enemy, by the yielding of the supporting 
division on Sherman's flank (Prentiss's division), was enabled 
to bring his artillery in the rear of Sherman's left, which 
necessitated a change of position to a new line lying on the 
Purdy and Hamburg road. During this movement both bri- 
o-ades, becoming disorganized, withdrew to Hamburg and 
Savannah road, parts only of regiments remaining in line. 

From his position Sherman saw other masses directing their 
movements with the evident intention of passing his own left 
flank and falling upon the divisions of McClernand and Prentiss 
(the latter giving way at his second position at9a.n1.), whose 
lines paralleled the Tennessee River, 2 miles distant. Sher- 
man's left, turned by the giving way of Prentiss, made the 
enemy's movement severely felt. The enemy's infantry and 
artillery soon opened along the whole line, and the battle 
became general. 

By half past 10 the enemy was making a furious attack on 
McClernand's whole front, to meet which, being hard pressed, 



196 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Sherman quickly moved McDowell's brigade directly against 
the left flank of the enemy, which was forced back. He then 
directed his men to avail themselves of ever)- cover — logs, 
stumps, and trees — and hold their ground at every cost. This 
they did for four hours of as vicious musketry fire as had ever 
been delivered between two lines of battle. 

In this desperate strait the ultimate success was due largely 
to the perfect accord which existed between Sherman and 
McClernand in the struggle to maintain this line. It was 
impossible to bring up reenforcements, owing to the furious fire 
which swept every part of the field around them. 

At 3 p. m. General Grant visited Sherman in this position. 

At 4 p. m. Hurlbut's line was driven back to the river. 

In the meantime Gen. Lew Wallace was making the best 
of his way with reenforcements from Crumps Landing. In 
cooperation with this Sherman and McClernand shifted to a 
new line, having their right cover a bridge by which Wallace 
was obliged to approach. 

A charge of the enemy's cavalry in an effort to thwart this 
maneuver was splendidly repulsed by the Twenty-ninth Illi- 
nois Volunteers and Fifth Ohio Battery, which had come for- 
ward and held the enemy in check for some time. Taylor's 
battery in position, with a flank fire on the enemy's column 
which was crowding McClernand, checked the advance, when 
McClernand's division, charging in return, drove the enemy 
back into the ravine on front and right. Sherman had now 
a clear field of 200 yards on his front, where he succeeded in 
holding the enemy during the rest of the day. 

By 2 p. m., in Sherman's own words, his "division was 
very much mixed," Buckland's brigade being the only one left 
intact as to organization. Colonel Hildebrand was on the field, 
but his brigade was not. McDowell had been injured and gone 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 197 

to the rear, his three regiments not being in line. The Thir- 
teenth Missouri (Wright) reported to Sherman on the field 
and fought bravely, retaining its formation as part of his line 
Sunday night and to the end on Monday. Fragments of many 
regiments and companies fell into his division and acted with it 
during the rest of the battle. 

Generals Grant and Buell visited Sherman at his bivouac 
during the night. From them this hero of the bloody day 
learned the situation of affairs on other parts of the field. The 
men, in excellent spirits and eager to renew the conflict, lay on 
their arms with only such rations as could be brought to them 
from the neighboring camps. 

At dawn on the second day (Monday) Sherman received 
General Grant's order to assume the offensive and recapture his 
original camps. He also mentioned that General Buell had 
reached the banks of the Tennessee, opposite Pittsburg Land- 
ing, and was ferrying his troops over. Having gathered his 
forces well in hand during the night, Sherman awaited the 
advance on the main Corinth road of Wallace's division of 
Grant's army, which early on the night of the first day had 
arrived from Crumps Landing, on the Tennessee, advancing by 
Snake Creek. 

At 10 a. m., hearing a heavy cannonade, which he construed 
to indicate the advance of Wallace on his right flank, Sherman 
in person led the head of his column toward McClernand's 
right and formed line of battle facing south, with Buckland's 
brigade directly across the ridge and Stuart's on its right in the 
woods. In this formation they advanced under a withering fire 
of musketry and artillery. At the same time three guns of 
Company A, Chicago Light Artillery, advanced by hand, and, 
firing, did effective execution. 

On reaching a point where the Corinth road crossed the line 



198 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

for McClernand's camp Sherman was joined by part of General 
Buell's Kentucky forces. Willich's regiment advanced and 
entered the thicket in front in grand style. The enemy had 
rallied at this point under cover, which led to twenty minutes 
of the severest musketry fire, as Sherman afterwards said he 
had ' ' ever heard. ' ' 

This grove of water oaks, 500 }'ards east of Shiloh Meeting 
House, had now become the scene of the struggle, as Sherman 
had foreseen in the beginning, which would decide the mastery 
of the national or the rebel forces in Kentucky and Tennessee 
and possibly in that part of the Mississippi Valley lying south 
of the mouth of the Ohio to Baton Rouge. 

The enemy could be seen massing his lines to the south. 
McClernand calling for artillery, Sherman sent him Wood's 
three guns, which had done such excellent work in the earlier 
part of the day and which again drove the enemy back in 
disorder. 

At the same moment dispatching one of his aids to hurry up 
the two 24-pounder howitzers of McAllister's battery, Sherman 
brought them into position and began to play on the enemy's 
ranks at the very timely instant of the crisis of attack. 

It was now 2 p. m. The enemy had one battery close by 
Shiloh Meeting House and another near the Hamburg road 
pouring grape and canister upon Sherman's column advancing 
to the copse of water oaks. One regiment, almost decimated, 
had been driven back. An active brigade (Rousseau's) of 
McCook's division was now deployed, and advancing splendidly 
entered the dreaded wood abreast of the Second and Fourth 
Brigades of Sherman's division, together sweeping everything 
before them. Under his personal direction the 24-pounders 
had silenced the enemy's guns on the left and later those at 
Shiloh Meeting House. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 199 

At 4 p. m. Sherman and his fighters had the glorious satis- 
faction of occupying their original front line and of seeing the 
enemy in full retreat. He directed all his brigades to at once 
resume their old camps." 

Several times during the action his supply of ammunition 
became exhausted, notwithstanding General Grant's constant 
forwarding of supplies. 

At a critical pass Sherman urged his regiments to stand fast, 
although out of cartridges. After the battle he specially com- 
mended the Fortieth Illinois and Thirteenth Missouri "for 
holding their positions under heavy fire, notwithstanding their 
cartridge boxes were empty." With bayonets fixed these 

a The following is an outline of the part taken by each of Sherman's brigades: 
The First (McDowell's) Brigade, at first alarm, Sunday morning, each regiment 
formed on its color line. About 8 a. m. it advanced to the brow of the hill overlooking 
Shiloh Branch and joined the right of Buckland's brigade. At 10 a. m. it was ordered 
to retire to Purdy road, moving to the left to connect with Buckland's brigade near the 
crossroads Finding a Confederate force interposed, it engaged and drove back the 
enemy moving into Crescent field. It continued its movement until it connected with 
McClernand at 11.30 a. m. At 12 m. the brigade was attacked on the right flank and 
engaged until 1.30 p. m. with severe loss. At 2.30 p. m. it retired to the lauding and 
later formed behind Hurlbut. 

The Second (Stuart's) Brigade took warning from its pickets of the approach of the 
enemy about 8 a m., and instantly formed on regimental color lines, but being 
exposed to artillery fire (Chalmers), at 10 a. m. moved to the left. A part of this 
brigade attacked by Jackson, retired from the field. Stuart in person, with two regi- 
ments resisted the attacks of Chalmers until 2 p. m., when, running out of ammuni- 
tion he was compelled to fall back to the landing, reforming at the log house, where 
part of this brigade was engaged in resisting Chalmers's attack on Sunday night. 
Stuart, its commander, wounded on Sunday, was succeeded by Col. T. Kilby Smith, 
who fought on the right next to Lew. Wallace all day Monday. 

The Third (Hildebrand's) Brigade formed at 7 a. m. to meet the enemy, two of the 
regiments in advance of their camps in the valley of Shiloh Branch. The brigade was 
attacked in front by Cleburne's and Wood's brigades. This attack falling on the 
exposed flanks of one of the regiments, in an effort to change front it fell back disor- 
ganized Part of this brigade, reenforced by Raith's brigade of the First Division, held 
its position for some time and then also fell back disorganized and was not in line 
again as regiments. Eight companies of the Fifty-third Ohio, which reformed at the 
landing on Monday, advanced with Marsh's command in McClernand's corps. 

The Fourth (Buckland's) Brigade from about 7 a. m. having withstood the attacks ot 
Cleburne, Anderson, and Johnson until 10 a. m., threatened on the right flank, under 
orders fell back to the Purdv road. In doing so it was disorganized and scattered, but 
fought in fragments until reorganized, and participated in the 4.30 p. m. affair. On 
Monday the brigade, reunited with Stuart's brigade, formed Sherman's line which 
advanced to the right of McClernand's camps, thence southwesterly to Shiloh Meeting 
House, where the brigade occupied its old camp at 4 P- ni- 



200 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

brave men were prepared for a hand-to-hand encounter should 
the enemy invite that mode of fighting. 

In commenting upon the battle and giving personal credit, 
the general reported that McCook's division from Kentucky 
drove back the eneni}^ along Corinth road, which was the center 
of the part of the field where Beauregard commanded in person, 
supported by Bragg's, Polk's, and Breckinridge's divisions. 
General Albert Sidney Johnston, to whom Sherman in one of 
his earlier opinions referred as a "real" general, and who was 
in chief command, was killed at 2.30 p. m. on the first day on 
the Union left by a minie ball severing the main artery of the 
calf of the leg. 

The valorous deeds of Sherman's men is the more remark- 
able when it is remembered that the regiments were perfectly 
new, many having received their muskets at Paducah and none 
having ever before been under fire. These facts demonstrated 
the magnetic power of Sherman. 

The regiments of his division in action and which suffered 
losses were: 

Infantry: Illinois, Fortieth, Fifty-fifth; Iowa, Sixth; Ohio, 
Forty-sixth, Forty-eighth, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Fifty- 
seventh, Seventieth, Seventy-first, and Seventy-seventh. 

Artillery: Taylor's, Behr's, and Waterhouse's batteries. 

Cavalry: Fourth Illinois. 

His losses were: Killed — officers, 16; men, 309. Wounded — 
officers, 52; men, 1,225. Missing — officers, 7; men, 292. Total, 
1 , 90 1 . 

Total force of Sherman's (5) division (April 6-7), 8,580. 

In the entire battle the national loss was: Officers and men 
killed, 1.754; wounded, 8,408; prisoners, 2,885; total, 13,047, 
of which number General Buell's army lost 2,103, leaving 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 201 

Grant's loss 10,944, which General Sherman regarded the 
proper proportion of fighting by each army. 

The enemy captured 8 of Sherman's 18 guns in action on 
Sunday, and Sherman captured the same number on Monday. 
The entire loss of the enemy was 10,699. 

Of the national forces the strength of Grant's five divisions 
engaged was 39,830 men. The enemy had 43,968, with the 
momentum of attack until 2.30 p. m. Sunday, when General 
Johnston was killed. 

SELF-VINDICATION. 

In after years General Sherman frequently stated that he 
had made up his mind in the first battle to demonstrate to his 
countrymen how far the infamous stories of ' ' insanity ' ' were 
true. He regarded his part in the battle of Shiloh, named 
after his camp, in the thickest of the fray as his answer to the 
allegation. He also added: 

By this time the good people North had begun to have their eyes opened 
and to give us in the field more faitli and support. 

The men utterly exhausted by the time of the regaining of 
their camp, the division was unable to follow the retreating 
enemy, who could be seen in dense masses getting out of reach 
in the greatest confusion. 

The men of the North held their ground. It was the first 
real test of determination under fire. The prestige was won. 
From this point it became a game of grand war. The armies 
were of equal bravery; victory resolved itself into skill and 

generalship. 

Next day after the battle (April 8), in a reconnoissance of 
cavalry and two brigades of infantry on the Corinth road, the 
deserted camps which were destroyed showed a very large force 



202 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

engaged; also the guns taken in the battle were found broken up 
and abandoned, 280 Confederate wounded were captured and 
50 of our own recovered. 

General Sherman referred in after life to the criticisms on 
this battle, which seemed "to be sustained by hasty reports of 
officers at the steamboat landing." He mentions, however, 
specifically seeing General Grant on the field at 10 a. m. on the 
first day, when he was desperately engaged, but had checked 
the assault of the enemy and was holding his ground, which 
gave his commanding officer great satisfaction, as matters were 
not so favorable on the left. 

The spot upon which stood Sherman, surrounded by his 
unconquerable men of the Army of the Tennessee in defense of 
the American Union, gave name to the first and fiercest of the 
decisive battles of the civil war in America. 

THE POSSIBILITIES OF SHIEOH. 

This success wisely utilized might have determined the strug- 
gle in that western field of operations, then and there. The 
enemy was forced to evacuate Columbus, his last stronghold in 
Kentucky. From his new position at Island No. 10, in the 
Mississippi River, after a land and gunboat attack, he was driven 
with the loss of a large part of his force. 

The open way down that great artery of national life was 
inviting to a further successful move. General Halleck, still in 
command as chief from St. Louis, transferred the army cooper- 
ating with the flotilla from the Mississippi to the Tennessee. 

The flotilla, which in cooperation with the Army of the Mis- 
sissippi had performed such wonders at Island No. 10 unsup- 
ported by a land force, found itself held up by the ponderous 
batteries of Fort Pillow, which defended the city of Memphis 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 203 

50 miles below, necessitating an intricate concert of movements 
overland. 

The capture of Memphis, then entirely feasible, by the same 
force which reduced Island No. 10 would have opened the way 
to the flotilla of Foote to shake hands across the bows of the fleet 
of Farragut at Vicksburg. 

After Shiloh, in order to be prepared for the offensive at any 
moment, Sherman consolidated his division of four brigades 
into three. First, Gen. Morgan L. Smith; second, Col. J. A. 
McDowell; third, Brig. Gen. J. \Y. Denver. 

MAJOR-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS — A NEW SHUFFLE. 

T1862.] 

In recognition of his heroic conduct at Shiloh Sherman was 
promoted to the three-starred badge of rank, as major-general 
of volunteers. 

About the same time the commander in chief for the first 

time appeared on the scene of action, took command of all the 

armies and "reorganized," Grant, the captor of Henry and 

Donelson and commander at Shiloh, "second in command," 

' ' with no defined duty or authority. ' ' Employing Sherman's 

words: 

For more than a month he thus remained without any apparent 
authority, frequently visiting me and others and rarely complaining, but I 
could see that he felt deeply the indignity of the insult heaped upon him. 

In this new shuffle with his division of the old army of the 
Tennessee Sherman fell in the right wing under Gen. George 
H. Thomas, with whom he had always acted in perfect har- 
mony, having been classmates and having served together in 
the old army and in California. 

It should be mentioned in this arrangement Gen. Thomas 
W. Sherman, having the same initials, inverted, of our hero, 
vS. Doc. 320, 58-2 14 



204 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

without even remote family relationship, yet which often came 
great confusion, was assigned to the same wing. During these 
delays the enemy found ample time for reorganization, accumu- 
lation of supplies, and generally getting away, in defeat, with 
all the advantages gained by the Union victories on the Ten- 
nessee and the Mississippi. 

SHERMAN AT CORINTH. 

The enemy had concentrated at Corinth, 22 miles distant. 

The national forces at the end of April were concentrated 
between Snake Creek on the right and the Tennessee River at 
Hamburg on the left, 100,000 strong, now up to one-half the 
full strength of that "insane request" of Sherman only six 
short months before. 

In the movement on Corinth which now began Sherman 
held the position of honor on the extreme right of the right 
wing. 

On May 19, within 2 miles of its northern entrenchments, 
Sherman drew the first blood of the enemy. 

On the 27th he received orders from Halleck ' ' to send a force 
the next day to drive the rebels from the house in the front on 
the Corinth road; to drive in their pickets as far as possible, 
and to make a strong demonstration on Corinth itself. ' ' Sher- 
man not only carried the position with a sweep, but pursued to 
the crest of a ridge, from which he could overlook the enemy's 
works and hear the drum rolls and the bugle calls inside. 
Generals Grant and Thomas, anticipating something brilliant, 
accompanied him to witness the affair. In this action Sherman 
requested the assistance of Generals Veatch and John A. Logan, 
respectively from Hurlbut's and McClernaud's divisions. 

It was the bringing of these two soldiers to the front under 
the immediate eye of Grant and Sherman. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 205 

On the 29th the whistling of locomotives and tremendous 
explosions suggested something unusual. Sherman, ever upon 
the alert, received orders to advance his division and " feel the 
enemy," if still on his front. Hastily pressing forward he 
found the parapets vacant and pushed ' ' straight for the aban- 
doned town."- 

He at once sent one of his brigades in pursuit, which was, 
however, barred from further rapid movement at Tuscumbia 
River bridge, 4 miles, which was burned. He found the woods 
full of deserters, but instead of encumbering himself with them 
as prisoners extended the fatherly advice "to go home and 
stay there." 

The movement on Corinth was the last of General Halleck'.'. 
strategy. In the latest reorganization he went East and Grant 
remained West. 

The possession of Corinth formed an excellent base, being at 
the junction of the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charles- 
ton railroads and the focal point of wagon roads leading into 
Mississippi and other objective points of any strategical move- 
ments in an extensive surrounding area. 

By way of comment after, Sherman expressed the opinion — 

Had Halleck held his force as a unit he could have gone to Mobile or 
Vicksburg, and by one move have solved the whole Mississippi problem. 

This was left for Grant and Sherman, and at a vast and 
useless outlay of blood and treasure. 

But again, as at Shiloh and Island No. 10, no sooner was 
Corinth taken and ' ' the real opportunity opened to this really 
grand army" than it was again scattered. Pope was called 
East and his army (Mississippi) broken up. Thomas was 
reassigned to his old division in the Army of the Ohio, and, 
with Buell in command, moved to Chattanooga, while Halleck, 
with his reduced force, remained at Corinth. 



206 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

HOW SHERMAN SAVED GRANT TO THE COUNTRY. 

About this time, during a visit of Sherman to Halleck's 
headquarters, the latter casually referred to the intended de- 
parture the next morning of General Grant on thirty daws' 
leave, alleging that to him the cause was not known. Sherman 
readily surmised it. 

Hastening to General Grant's camp on the Monterey road, 
he was surprised to find him located in an obscure wood, 
occupying, with his staff, five small tents, with camp chests 
and equipage piled around, and Grant himself in the midst, 
seated on a camp stool, assorting letters. 

" General," said Sherman, having dismounted, " is it true 
you are going away? 

"Yes," replied Grant, going on with his assorting. 

"And may I ask the reason?" persisted this faithful friend. 

"Sherman, you know. You know that I am in the way 
here. I have stood it as long as I can. I can endure it no 
longer." 

' ' Where are you going?" 

"To St. Louis." 

"Have you any business there?" 

" Not a bit." 

This tried comrade in arms begged him in most earnest terms 
" not to quit," illustrating his case by his own, adding: 

' ' Before the battle of Shiloh I was cast down by a mere 
newspaper assertion of being crazy; that single battle gave me 
new life, and now I am in high feather." 

Grant was silent for some moments, but, consciously impressed, 
at length gave utterance to his resolve: 

"Sherman, I promise to wait, or not to go without seeing 
you again." 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 207 

What an ante-climax in the career of the two greatest soldiers 
of the civil war! 

A few days later, Sherman having received orders to occupy 

Chewalla, 14 miles northwest of Corinth, to repair and protect 

the railroad and reconnoiter to Grand Junction, 50 miles beyond, 

Grant formally accepted his advice in a letter of June 6, to 

which Sherman on the same day from his camp made this 

characteristic response: 

I am rejoiced at your conclusion to remain, for you could not be quiet 
at home for a week when armies were moving, and rest could not relieve 
your mind of the gnawing sensation that injustice had been done you. 

The mistake of withdrawing the Army of the Mississippi 
from its victorious career at Island No. 10 was not expiated by 
the strategic effect of the successful Corinth operations in com- 
pelling the enemy's evacuation of the formidable defenses of 
Fort Pillow (June 1 ), the important city of Memphis (June 7), 
and destruction of the enemy's gunboats now wedged between 
Memphis on the north and Vicksburg on the south. 

About two weeks previously (May 24) Farragut had taken 
New Orleans and advanced his fleet as far north as that strong- 
hold on the banks of the great river. 

In the language of Sherman — 

It now looks as if the river has been captured. [* * *] It was a fatal 
mistake, however, that halted General Halleck at Corinth and led him to 
disperse and scatter the best materials for a fighting army that up to that 
date had been assembled in the West. 

During the last half of June and first half of July Sherman 
had his now famous division stretched between Grand Junction, 
Lagrange, Moscow, and Lafayette, along the boundary between 
Tennessee and Mississippi, engaged in the task of railroad 
repair instead of thrashing the enemy. He found some diver- 
sion, however, in fighting cavalry ' ' to save the railroad, and also 
planters to save their negroes and fences." The latter were 
bent upon raising corn, even between the hostile lines of the 



2o8 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

opposing armies, as the only means of keeping their friends in 
the field. 

It was small business for one of the greatest military heroes 
of the century, but he uttered not a word of objection. 

IN COMMAND OF THE DISTRICT OF MEMPHIS. 

About the middle of July, at Moscow, Sherman received a 
dispatch from Halleck communicating information of the defeat 
of McClellau by Lee, announcing, as he had been summoned 
to Washington, his command would be transferred to General 
Grant, who would come from Memphis to Corinth, and Sher- 
man should go into Memphis to take command of the district 
of that name. 

It was while Sherman was in camp (June 23) at Lafayette 
that General Grant, accompanied by his staff and a small escort, 
halted on his way from Memphis to Corinth, having been 
assigned to the command of the district of West Tennessee. 
Up to this time Sherman had received orders direct from 
Halleck. In the new combinations he fell under command 
of Grant, in which relation he stood until the end of the war. 
General Sherman: entered Memphis on July 2 1 with his own 
and Hurlbut's divisions. 

The victorious army which General Halleck had assembled 
was now on the defensive. 

The reorganized enemy was prepared to assume an offensive 
attitude against Nashville and Louisville, which had forced 
Buell back to the Ohio at the latter city. With the reeuforce- 
ments brought by Van Dorn and Price from west of the Missis 
sippi and a large body of cavalry centered at Holly Springs, 
the enemy was in condition to act. 

To meet this force and divert its strategic purposes General 
Grant had about 50,000 men. With these he inaugurated a 
series of concerted movements, the first contact being at Iuka, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 209 

where, after some desperate fighting, victory declared for the 
national forces. 

At the end of September Sherman with about 6,000 men 
still occupied Memphis. With his entire force Grant held a 
front of 150 miles, guarded 200 miles of railroad, and as much 
of the Mississippi River. 

The army under Van Dorn with 40,000 men was free to 
strike as he pleased. Sherman, who had greatly strengthened 
Memphis as a measure of precaution, moved out under orders 
to threaten the enemy's stores, especially at Holly Springs. 

On October 1 General Grant, who occupied a central point at 
Jackson, Tenn., with a small reserve, felt assured of an attack 
on Bolivar or Corinth. The next day Van Dorn with his entire 
army was before Corinth, which was held by Rosecraus with 
20,000 men, and made a fierce attempt, his attacking column at 
one time having carried part of the defenses. On the 3d, how- 
ever, his rout was complete, with a loss of 6,000 men. On the 
5th Ord again defeated the fleeing enemy at the Hatchie cross- 
ing to the south. The delay in this movement, for which, how- 
ever, General Ord was not responsible, caused great indignation 
on the part of General Grant. It saved Van Dorn his army 
from complete destruction or disintegration, but led to the 
appointment of Ljeutenaut-General Pemberton in his place. 

Grant placed under Sherman's command a number of new 
regiments. Out of these he organized the new brigades, which 
he officered by men who had come under his own eye for skill 
and experience in the field and battle, and found himself at 
the head of a really formidable body of veterans. 

THE RULER OF A CITY. 

The remarkable range of genius and application with which 
Sherman was endowed now takes a novel departure in his 
new attitude as the ruler of a city. 



210 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Under instructions he took post, as we have seen, at Memphis. 
With his fifth division he occupied Fort Pickering near by, 
with Hurlbut's division a few miles below on the banks of the 
Mississippi. 

For the next five months (July to December 3, 1862) his 
efforts were directed to bringing order out of chaos in the 
affairs of the community about him. He reopened stores, 
churches, schools, theaters, and all else in the even-day lives 
of the people, and restored the mayor and municipal functions. 

An insight into the breadth of Sherman's methods is set 
forth in his official declarations. 

Two days after his occupation of the city, in reply to a peti- 
tion of physicians asking a modification of an order of his 
predecessor permitting the departure south of all persons sub- 
ject to the conscription laws of the Southern Confederacy, he 
wrote : 

It is now sunset, and all who have not availed themselves of General 
Hovey's authority and who remain in Memphis are supposed to be loyal 
and true men. I can not allow the personal convenience of even a large 
class of ladies to influence me in my determination to make Memphis a 
safe place of operations of an army, and all people who are unfriendly 
should forthwith prepare to depart in such direction as I may hereafter 
indicate. 

Concluding with a burst of irony: 

Surgeons should not reside within the limits of an army which they 
regard as hostile. The situation would be too delicate. 

The next day in his refreshing manner of not making many 
words nor of mincing those which he emplo3 T ed, he dealt with 
the press in a serio-comic vein: 

It is well [wrote he to an editor of prominence] to come to an under- 
standing at once with the press, as well as the people of Memnhis, which 
I am ordered to command, which means to control for the interest, wel- 
fare, and glory of the whole Government of the United States. 



Sherman; A Memorial Sketch. 211 

Referring to a sketch intended to be complimentary, but full 

of errors, he wrote: 

I want no more, as I don't desire my biography to be written till I am 
dead. It is enough for the world to know that I live, and as a soldier 
bound to obey the orders of my superiors, the laws of my country, and to 
venerate its constitution; and where discretion is given me I shall exercise 
it wisely and account to my superior. 

After a highly regaling epistolary presentation of the duties 
of editors, based upon a most comical retrospect of the ignor- 
ance of facts shown respecting his own career, he naively 
continues: 

I will attend to the judge, mayor, board of aldermen, and policemen in 
good time. * * * Use your influence to establish system, order, and 
government. If I find the press of Memphis actuated by high principles 
and a sole devotion to their country I will be their best friend, but if I find 
them abusive personally, they had better look out, for I regard such persons 
as greater enemies to their country than the men who, from mistaken 
sense of State pride, have taken up muskets and fight us as hard as we 
care about. 

Three days later to the mayor whom he restored: 

I have the most unbounded respect for the civil law, courts, and 
authority. I am glad to find in Memphis a mayor and municipal author- 
ity not onty in existence but in the coexercise of important functions, and 
I shall endeavor to restore one or more civil tribunals for the arbitration 
of contracts and punishment of crime, which the military will have 
neither time nor inclination to interfere with. 

On these points, elaborating succinctly, he shows in a nut- 
shell his mastery of municipal administration. This phase of 
his management and expansion of city government is more 
broadly presented in his letter of instructions of August 7 to 
the assistant quartermaster at Memphis on the subject of con- 
fiscation and taking possession of and applying the proceeds of 
property vacated by disloyal persons; also his answers to certain 
questions propounded by the agent conducting this business. 



212 Slier man: A Memorial Sketch. 

THE COTTON QUESTION. 

On August 1 1 he sent a long communication to the Secre- 
tary of the Treasury, who had invited "his discussion of the 
cotton question." This, as all know who were there, was one 
of the most difficult subjects with which department and dis- 
trict commanders in the L,ower Mississippi and Gulf fields of 
military movements had to contend. 

In the opportunity officially opened, Sherman began opera- 
tions by stating (Salmon P. Chase was then Secretary), " I will 
write plainly and slowly, because I know you have no time to 
listen to trifles." The entire document shows not onl) T the 
scope of a great soldier, but of a public economist, and is a 
valuable contribution not only to the literature of the war, but 
on the politico-military phases of it. We are simply dealing in 
epigrams from the general mass. He was being pursued by a 
cloud of speculators up to all the tricks of the trade. The 
business had been taken from the military and turned over to 
an agent of the Treasury. 

There is not a garrison in Tennessee [he wrote] where a man can go 
beyond the sight of the flagstaff without being shot or captured. 

It so happened that the people had cotton. They did not and could 
not dream that we would pay money for it. 

But commercial enterprise soon discovered that 10 cents would buy a 
pound of cotton behind our Army, that 4 cents would take it to Boston, 
where they could receive for it 30 cents in gold. 

When here they discovered that salt, bacon, powder, firearms, percus- 
sion'caps, etc., were worth as much as gold, and, strange to say, this traffic 
was not only permitted, but encouraged. 

Before we, in the interior, could know it, thousands of barrels of salt and 
millions of dollars of money had been disbursed. I doubt not Bragg's 
army at Tupelo, and Van Dorn's at Vicksburg, received enough salt to 
make bacon, without which they could not have moved their armies in 
mass. From 10,000 to 20,000 fresh arms and cartridges have been gotten, 
I am satisfied. As soon as I got to Memphis I ordered, as to my own 
command, that gold, silver, and Treasury notes were contraband of war. 

Every gold dollar spent for cotton is sent to the seaboard to be 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 213 

exchanged for bank notes or Confederate scrip, which will buy goods 
here. I required cotton to be paid for in notes by an obligation to pay at 
the end of the war or by a deposit of the price in the hands of a trustee, 
viz, the United States quartermaster. Under these rules cotton is being 
obtained and yet the enemy receives no aid or comfort. 

I may not appreciate the foreign aspect of the question. [Apparently, 
from his views expressed, he understood it thoroughly.] 

The Southern people know this full well, and will only accept the 
alliance of England in order to get arms and ammunition in exchange 
for their cotton, as the South knows that in Old England her slaves and 
slavery will receive no more encouragement than in New England. 

On September 4 he informed the Assistant Adjutant-General 

at Washington that he had modified his first instructions about 

cotton as ordered, adding: 

Trade in cotton is now free, but in all else I endeavor so to control that 
the enemy shall receive no contraband goods or any aid or comfort. 

During the same mouth, in reply to persistent complaints, he 

concludes: 

I know, moreover, in some instances here our soldiers are complained of; 
I also know that they have been insulted by sneering remarks. * 
People who use such language must seek redress through some one else, 
for I will not tolerate insults to our country or cause. 

MEMPHIS AS A MILITARY BASE. 

In the midst of these harassing duties Sherman had brought 
his city up to the position of one of the most important depots 
of supplies on the great river, especially, situated as it was, near 
the seat of present and prospective operations. Fort Pickering 
had been strengthened and made defensible by a minimum 
garrison. 

Things by November began to again look aggressive with 
Sherman. Abput the middle of that month General Grant, 
from L,agrange, whence he was operating south toward Jack- 
son and Vicksburg, dispatched: "Meet me at Columbus, Ky. 
If 3^011 have a good map, bring it." At that famous meeting, 
the two officers being closeted alone, Grant explained that he 



214 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

proposed to move against Pemberton, then intrenched on a line 
behind the Tallahatchie River, below Holly Springs. As a con- 
certed movement he wished Sherman, leaving a proper garri- 
son at Memphis, to form a junction with him at that point. 
Sherman suggested a contributory expedition from Helena, 
Ark., toward Grenada, Miss., to threaten Pemberton's rear, 
which was accepted. 

The Sherman movement got under way in nine days, com- 
mand reorganized and equipped, Memphis provided for, and all 
secure in his rear, and was in communication with Grant at 
Holly Springs eight days (December 2) later. Pemberton, 
compelled by these strategic moves to let go his Tallahatchie 
line with all its costly defenses, re-formed on the Yalabusha, 
near Grenada. At Oxford, Sherman, with his entire command, 
reported to Grant. 

THE RIVER CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG. 
[18(52-63.] 

At this point the two commanders had another of their "con- 
fidential talks," and as a result on December 3 Sherman was 
assigned to the command of the right wing of the Army of the 
Tennessee. The possession of the Mississippi was the posses- 
sion of the heart not only of the continent but of the territory 
and trade of the United States. 

The capture of Vicksburg, the stronghold of the lower river, 
was therefore an imperative necessity. He was to return to 
Memphis, organize his forces, and, in cooperation with Admiral 
Porter's fleet, descend the river to make a lodgment up the 
Yazoo, and capture Vicksburg by surprise from the rear while 
the garrison was small. Meanwhile Grant from Oxford would 
handle Pemberton, keeping him away from Vicksburg or pursue 
him if he retreated. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 215 

For his task Sherman had about 33,000 men— 21,000 his 
own and 12,000 part of Curtis's men— west of the Mississippi 
all of which Grant authorized him ' ' to organize in his own 

way." 

On December 22 the entire imposing procession of transports 
and convoys, several gunboats in the lead, others distributed 
through the column, and several forming a rear guard, steamed 
to Friars Point as the place of rendezvous, and thence four days 
after ascended the Yazoo a distance of 1 3 miles to a position 
within striking distance of the forts on Walnut Hills, which 
encircled the landward side of the city as far as Haines Bluff. 
These forts were manned by an estimated force of 15,000 men. 
By noon of the 29th, the time set for assault, a combination of 
natural obstacles— fogs, rains, and floods— added to the strength 
of the position, and a stronger garrison than was supposed ren- 
dered all efforts fruitless. Prudence, decidedly the better part 
of valor under these conditions, dictated withdrawal, which was 
accomplished with ease on the night of New Year's Day of 1863. 
The reverberations of the guns of Grant, for which Sherman 
had listened night and day from Yazoo City, did not materialize. 
From the time of leaving Memphis he had had no word from his 
chief. It was evident from the rapid movement of trains, 
indicated by the whistles of locomotives entering the city, and 
the new men manning the batteries that something not counted 
in their plans at Oxford had transpired. But one course was 
l e f t _p r ompt withdrawal before a superior force. 

The losses sustained in this attack were 127 killed, 930 
wounded, and 743 prisoners, mostly on the 29th. The enemy's 
loss, fighting from behind breastworks, was slight. 



216 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

COMMAND OF THE SECOND CORPS, ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 

[1863.] 

At the same time General McClernaud appeared with special 
orders assigning him to the command of the expeditionary 
forces on the Mississippi. Sherman, ever actuated by the 
most exalted patriotism, accepted the unexpected and ex- 
plained what had been done. From this source he first learned 
that Van Dorn had captured Grant's stores at Holly Springs nine 
days before (December 20), and compelled Grant to fall back, 
which accounted for the sudden and suspected reenforcements 
of the defenses of Vicksburg. Grant had sent word to Sher- 
man of the mishap, which, however, did not reach him until 
after his attempt. Under the McClernand order, January 5, 
1863, Sherman assumed command of the second of the two 
corps of the Army of the Mississippi. 

The assignment of McClernand to the command of this 
army was by confidential order of the War Department of 
October 21, 1862, indorsed by President Lincoln. This transfer 
of command possessed sufficient material to set aflame another 
batch of fabrications of "failure," "repulse," "bungling," etc. 

The best military critics then and since pronounce the 
handling of the movement skillful and the ground impreg- 
nable. In Sherman's own words: 

Although in all official reports I assumed the whole responsibility, I 
have ever felt that had General Morgan promptly and skillfully sustained 
the lead of Frank Blair's brigade we should have broken the rebel line 
and effected a lodgment in the hills behind Vicksburg; [adding] but had 
we succeeded, we might have been in a worse trap when Pemberton's 
whole force was released. 

The new commander was for "cutting his way to the sea," 
to which Sherman sardonically replied, "but the modus 
operandi of it was not so clear." 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 217 

ARKANSAS POST. 

The audacious dashes of the enemy from Arkansas Post upon 
steamboats plying up and down the river without convoys sug- 
gested to Sherman the advantage of destroying that trouble- 
some position. To this his new chief assented. The morale 
of the men of Sherman's expedition, owing to the masterly 
control of the complications at Chickasaw Bluffs, was unaffected. 
On January 8, but ten days after the withdrawal from the 
rear of Vicksburg, the entire force, men and boats, was at the 
mouth of the river, the next day within striking distance of 
Fort Hindman. Sherman quickly disembarking his troops 
moved up so close "to the fort that at 4 a. m.," as he notes, 
' ' the bugler in the rebel camp sounded as pretty a reveille as I 
have ever listened to." 

The gunboats having opened the attack, Sherman assaulted 
across an open field under a brisk fire of sharpshooters. It was 
not long before a white flag appeared on the parapets in his 
front. The fort was taken, together with 150 dead and 4,791 
prisoners, and dismantled. The loss to Shermen's corps was 
519 all told. 

On Januar}^ 13, 1863, having accomplished its purpose, the 
expedition, in a heavy snow storm, fell down the Arkansas 
River to Napoleon, at its mouth. 

FORGING AHEAD. 

The relations of General Sherman to military events were 
now assuming their natural proportions. The panic at Bull 
Run, disasters on York Peninsula, and varying turn of affairs 
later in the East, might have resulted in disruption or equally 
fatal compromise but for the successes of Forts Henry and 
Donelson, the decisive field of Shiloh, capture of Island No. 10, 



1/ 



218 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

triumphs at Iuka and Corinth, and occupation of Memphis in 
the West. Sherman, the "rock of Shiloh," the "ruler of a 
city," had now reached a place in military movements from 
which his greatness as a soldier and military statesman had 
every opportunity of development. General Grant appreciated 
him at his full worth and on every occasion sought the benefit 
of his judgment, moral aggressiveness, physical courage, and 
indefatigable personal exertion and sacrifice. 

COMMAND OF THE FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS. 
[1862-63.] 

Under orders from Washington, December 18, 1862, he was 
assigned to command of the Fifteenth Army Corps, Arm}' of 
the Tennessee, which he assumed on January 12, 1863. 

On January 18, 1863, while moored in front of Napoleon, 
General Grant joined the fleet and land force. He had con- 
trol over General McClernand's expeditionary incident by rea- 
son of his general command of the Army of the Tennessee. 
On the 2 1 st this entire force proceeded to Milliken's Bend. 

During his participation in the attack on Arkansas Post, 
Sherman received, information of another shake up in the 
Western armies by a War Department order (December 18, 
1862) grouping them into five corps d'armees, four of which 
should constitute the Army of the Tennessee under Grant, the 
command of the Fifteenth Corps in the field being assigned to 
Sherman. 

Before leaving Napoleon on the 18th, General Grant ordered 
the corps of Sherman (Fifteenth) and McClernand (Thir- 
teenth) to return to the movement against Yickburg, with 
instructions to disembark on the west bank of the river and 
resume work on the canal across the peninsula opposite Vicks- 
burg, begun the summer before, with the purpose of opening a 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 219 

way for gunboats and transports below without encountering 
the shore batteries of the city. McPherson's corps (Seven- 
teenth) was ordered from Memphis to Lake Providence, 60 
miles above. General Grant in person took command of the 
general movement. 

The canal project, which occupied January and February, 
was not a success, owing to the deluge of waters, which flooded 
the swollen rivers and bayous threatening to engulf everything 
in its path. The entire army was forced to seek high ground 
and the levees, abreast of which the steamboats lay ready to 
take the men aboard should the levees be swept away. 

Early in February two gunboats successfully tested the feasi- 
bility of running the batteries at the city by the main channel 
of the river. 

OPERATIONS ABOVE VICKSBURG. 

Sherman's force operating, or rather digging, on the pro- 
posed canal opposite Yicksburg furnished a detail of 500 men 
daily. His headquarters, in the midst of the rushing waters, 
were entirely surrounded, with access to the levee only by 
means of a foot walk on posts. By March the waters had 
reached a point which not only imperiled the army but threat- 
ened to wipe it out. On the 16th of that month Sherman 
received orders from Grant to reconnoiter certain bayous, to 
determine the feasibility of getting to the east bank of the 
Yazoo River at a point from which an army could act advan- 
tageously against Yicksburg. 

In pursuance of this preliminary, he placed at his disposal 
every facility of steamboats and troops. Admiral Porter in 
person led the floating part of the reconnoissance. After 
slow progress, Porter found himself entangled in an over- 
hanging forest and beset by a severe attack of infantry and 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 15 



220 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

artillery. By means of a tissue dispatch concealed in a plug of 
tobacco, intrusted to a reliable ' ' contraband, ' ' Sherman received 
information of the fleet's extremity. The needed succor was 
immediately hurried forward, Sherman himself paddling about 
in a canoe, giving orders and getting his forces together. The 
night was dark. When he again disembarked, having made 
but 2^ of the 4 miles necessary, he pushed through the cane- 
break, only keeping his way by the dim light of candles dis- 
tributed through his wet and toiling column, until it reached 
the open. There was not a horse in the command. General, 
officers, and men were struggling forward together in water 
often more than hip deep. The drummer boys carried their 
drums on their heads and the men their belts and cartridge 
boxes around their necks. In the words of Sherman, "the 
soldiers generally were glad to have their general and field 
officers afoot, but we gave them a fair specimen of marching, 
accomplishing about 21 miles by noon." The admiral's guns 
were sounding fierce and rapidly. The forest and underbrush 
were thick with guerrillas. It was evident that the enemy pro- 
posed to defend Vicksburg to the last extremity. 

An officer, advancing in great haste, explained the situation 
of the fleet. Offering Sherman his solitary animal, the gen- 
eral mounted, and, bareback, dashed up the levee with an 
alacrity which must have astonished even the quadruped itself 
by its expedited powers of locomotion. As he passed, the sailors 
coming out of their ironclads cheered lustily. His own men, 
imitating this example of dash and daring of their general, swept 
across the cotton field in full view of the beleaguered flotilla 
and in the face and flank of a rattling fire. The admiral was 
on deck, sheltered by a shield made of a section of a smoke- 
stack. In Sherman's words, "I doubt if he ever was more 
glad to meet a friend than he was to see me. ' ' 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 221 

Having almost reached its destination, the fleet encountered 
a body of sharpshooters sheltered by the dense forest on the 
banks. Under such conditions it was impossible to handle the 
cumbersome boats in the narrow channel. 

The opposing force thus suddenly developed had been hurried 
by forced marches from Haynes Bluff up the Sunflower t6 the 
Rolling Fork in anticipation of this movement. Under cover of 
this force obstructions were thrown in the channel to prevent 
advance. At the moment of Sherman's timely appearance 400 
of the enemy with axes were passing below the flotilla, intend- 
ing in the same manner to hew trees and cut off its retreat. 
This was the force which had been struck and hurled back. 

The movement showed the vigilance and determination of the 
defenders of Vicksburg. When the general arrived the only 
recourse of the admiral was ' ' to get his boats out of the scrape. ' ' 
Had not Sherman at that moment relieved him, it was his 
purpose to blow them up and escape with his men through 
the swamps. The flotilla now withdrew to the mouth of the 
Yazoo and the troops to their camp at Youngs Point, reaching 
there on the 27th. 

The disappointment of Grant was great, but not more so than 
of Sherman, who had done all that human endurance could 
plan and pursue. Grant regarded the attempt in the same 
light. 

This was but one of repeated efforts to secure a footing from 
which to operate against Vicksburg from above. 

OPERATIONS BELOW VICKSBURG. 

In the beginning of April Sherman's corps was enlarged 
to three divisions — Steel's, Blair's, and Tuttle's. By this time 
in the contest of muscle versus the Father of Waters it was 
decided that human ingenuity, skill, and toil could not divert 



222 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

the mad waters from the channel of their own choosing nor get 
access to the east bank in the rear of Yicksburg by any of the 
passes. 

The headquarters of Grant were at Millikens Bend and his 
arm}- strung from Sherman's position opposite Yicksburg to 
McPherson's camp, at Lake Providence— 60 miles. 

In their repeated conferences Sherman always favored the 
inland movement of the earl}' winter, the weight of which his 
chief always conceded, but did not feel safe in readopting — 

for reasons other than military [being unwilling] to take any course which 
would look like a step backward, [Grant] then concluded on the river 
movement below Vicksburg, as it would appear like connecting with Gen- 
eral Banks, who at the same time was besieging Port Hudson from the 
direction of New Orleans. 

NIPS A CONSPIRACY. 

On the first days of April at general headquarters a powerful 
intrigue against General Grant, in which newspaper clamor, 
politics, and hue and cry generally were important factors, was 
under discussion. Sherman promptly declared his adherence 
to his chief, as did practically all the officers of his arm v. 

A week later Sherman, from his camp near Yicksburg, 
addressed a communication to Adjutant-General Rawlins sug- 
gesting to General Grant to call upon his corps commanders for 
their opinions. He pointed to the Army of the Tennessee, now 
far in advance of any of the grand armies of the United States. 

In his usual terse and comprehensive style he gave his 
' ' opinions ' ' as an example to others. He proposed to estab- 
lish a force at Little Rock, Ark.; to fortify Yazoo Pass, Cold- 
water, and Tallahatchie; to open the road back to Memphis, 
Tenn.; to secure Grenada, Miss.; to patrol the swamp road to 
Helena, Ark., by cavalry; to make the line of the Yalobusha 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 223 

the base of operations to points where the railroads crossed the 
Big Black, one above Canton and the other below; the fall of 
Vicksburg being the inevitable result. 

As a cooperating force 10,000 men, and boats to float and 
transport them to any point desired, was to be maintained in 
their vicinity, always near enough at hand to act with the 
•army when known to be near Vicksburg, Haynes Bluff, or 
Yazoo City. 

With the same clearness he demonstrated the facilities 
afforded by certain water routes to supply the army operating 
against Jackson or the Big Black bridge, both vulnerable. He 
regarded the occupation of northern Mississippi as imperative 
in order to prevent planters, under protection of the enemy, 
from making crops. To these "opinions" he added that he 
' ' did not wish an answer. " " Whatever plan of action he 
[Grant] may adopt will receive from me the same zealous 
cooperation and energetic support as though conceived by 

myself." 

This letter was construed by some as a "protest," which, 
however, Sherman emphatically denied, observing, "We never 
had a council of war at any time during the Vicksburg cam- 
paign." We "often met casually, regardless of rank, and gos- 
siped of things in general, as officers do and should." 

As Sherman said, "the letter speaks for itself," and simply 
showed his "opinions at that stage of the game." It "was 
meant to induce General Grant to call upon General McCler- 
nand for a similar expression of opinion." 

It is not known that anything further came of Sherman's 
well-meant stroke of finesse. He said later that Grant told 
him after the war — 

if we had possessed in December, 1S62, the experience of marching and 
maintaining an army without an}- regular base, he would have gone on 



224 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

from Oxford as he at first contemplated, and would not have turned back 
on account of the destruction of his depot at Holly Springs. 

Sherman always disclaimed an)- disposition at any time to 

criticise the strategy of his chief, but did think — 

that he lost an opportunity, as he might have captured Vicksburg from 
Oxford in January, as was done from Bruinsburg in July. 

On April 20 Sherman received orders to bring up the rear 

of a general movement to the south of Vicksburg. A few 

nights before 7 ironclads, led by Admiral Porter in person, 3 

transports, and 10 barges ran the batteries. Sherman, 

anticipating a scene — 

had 4 yawl boats hauled across the swamp to the reach of the river below 
the city, manned by soldiers, ready to pick up any of the disabled wrecks 
floating by. 

From his own yawl Sherman, in the thickest, mentions the 

scene as- — 

truly sublime. The batteries belched forth a constant flash of light and 
iron. The burning houses on shore brought the entire fleet out in weird 
relief, affording an excellent target for the guns on shore. 

As the Admiral, on his flag boat, the Benton, passed, Sher- 
man boarded, exchanged a few words, and pulled back to the 
bank. 

The running of the batteries for supply transportation was 
now the thing. A few more successful attempts gave suffi- 
cient boats and stores below to cross and proceed as soon as 
Grant was ready to give the command "Advance!" On May 1 
Sherman found the roads clear of troops. At the head of his 
corps, he brought up the rear of the army at Youngs Point, 
prepared to take the lead in the operations which eventuated 
in the fall of the stronghold of the lower Mississippi. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 225 

SHERMAN MAKES A FEINT, GRANT A MOVE. 

While awaiting the opportunity of a clear road to close up 
the column of movement to the south of Yicksburg, Sherman 
received a communication from Grant informing him of his 
intention to cross to the east side of, the Mississippi and attack 
Grand Gulf about the end of April, and thought that he " could 
put in time usefully by making a ' feint ' on Haynes Bluff, but 
did not like to order it, because it might be reported at the 
North that he had again been repulsed, etc. ' ' Sherman replied 
that he ' ' would undertake the ' feint ' 1 regardless of public 
clamor at a distance. ' ' He made the ' ' feint ' ' with but ten 
small regiments of the Fifteenth, with brilliant success and 
results, affecting favorably the entire general plan of oper- 
ations. 

It was afterwards learned Pemberton in Vicksburg, hearing 
of the movement through spies, detached a large part of his 
strength intended to oppose the landing of Grant at Grand Gulf 
and Port Gibson, and by a forced march of 60 miles transferred 
it to meet the operations mentioned. As a result Grant found 
but a minor force antagonizing his crossing at Bruinsburg and 
afterwards at Port Gibson and Grand Gulf. 

THE CAMPAIGN IN THE REAR OF VICKSBURG. 
[MAY-JULY, 1863.] 

The waters had now so far receded that the canals were 
useless and the roads fair. Sherman joined the main army 
at Hard Times May 6, crossed to the Vicksburg side of the 
Mississippi, and moved forward to Hankinsons Ferry, 18 miles, 
the next day. The battle of Port Gibson, the first of the pro- 
gressive series up to the defenses of the city, was fought on 
the nth. 



226 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

At Auburn the Fifteenth overtook Grant in person, who 
accompanied the corps to Jackson, reaching there on the 14th. 
McPherson, having fought the battle of Raymond, formed a 
junction at that point, where Sherman had engaged the enemy 
just outside the town, capturing three full batteries of artillery, 
a number of prisoners, and hurling the opposing force north 
on the Clinton road. 

Grant, having obtained important information through in- 
tercepted dispatches, quietly informed Sherman "he would 
have to be smart" in order to thwart the proposed junction 
of Pemberton's forces from Vicksburg and Johnston's from the 
interior. McPherson was hastened- back on the morning of 
the 15th to join the rest of the army. Sherman, after de- 
stroying the railroad, arsenal, foundry, factories, and other 
establishments which might be used for hostile purposes, was 
to follow. 

The next day, regarding a battle imminent, he received 
orders to push to the support of the main column what troops 
he could spare, and to finish and hasten up with the rest. 

The celebrated battle and victory of Champion Hills on the 
same day, under the immediate command of Grant, in which 
a division of Sherman's corps participated, was the result. 

The enemy fleeing in great disorder toward the city, Sher- 
man with his entire force came up at the Big Black bridge. 
The river was "swimming deep," and a body of the enemy 
intrenched on the other side. On all fours he reached the river 
brink, and from behind a corncrib had a deliberate view of the 
works across the stream. Ordering forward a section of a bat- 
tery by hand from behind his improvised shelter, a few well- 
directed shells speedily brought the entire body of defenders 
down to the bank. A rubber boat belonging to his train 
ferried them over prisoners in his hands. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 227 

A pontoon bridge having been thrown across the river, during 
the night the entire army passed over by the light of enormous 
fires of pitch pine. Grant and SHERMAN, seated on a log, 
watched the movement, which Sherman described as a "weird 
scene of war. 

The next day, at 10 a. m., the head of his column occupied a 
position which gave him control of the peninsula between the 
Yazoo and Big Black. The day following a detachment of his 
cavalry made a dash at Haynes Bluff, "scooping" all the ene- 
my's guns, a magazine full of ammunition, and a hospital full 
of sick and wounded. 

Thus was fully triumphant the several hard knocks he had 
experience in aiming at the possession, in the primary move- 
ments, of this very ground. Renewing his march by General 
Grant's personal order, Sherman advanced by the "grave- 
yard ' ' road, which entered the city near a cemetery. At the 
same time, the rest of the army not being up, he took, with part 
of his force, the Jackson road, on the heels of the enemy's skir- 
mishers, making their best efforts to get within their parapets 
ahead of what was for a while a neck-and-neck sprint for 
possession. 

ATTEMPTS TO STORM THE CITY UNSUCCESSFUL. 

As he approached Sherman deployed forward, but the 
works were found almost impregnable by nature, well advan- 
taged by art, and determinedly garrisoned by man. Instead of 
further demonstration, without orders he sagaciously worked 
his way to the right, down the ridge to Haynes Bluff, in order 
to connect with the fleet in the Mississippi, which proved a 
master stroke of strategic vantage in the interest of the assaults 
and long seige which followed. 

When the entire army was planted upon its beleaguering 



228 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

lines, Sherman occupied the right of investment, McPherson 
the center, and McClernand the left, which covered about 
three-fourths of the hinterland front of the fortifications. 

On the natural supposition of the terror and demoralization 
of the enemy within the circumvallations, a general assault 
was essayed almost immediately, in which Sherman's men 
reached the top of the parapet, but could not cross. He held 
his ground, however, up to the ditch. Under cover of the 
night he withdrew sufficiently to counter trench within 50 
yards of the enemy. 

The attempt was renewed two days later (20th). Sherman 
in person reconuoitered his front and determined the form of 
attack. From his point of observation, 200 yards from the 
enemy's works, he could witness and control the storming lines 
of his heroes. The assault, lasting two hours, was "fierce and 
bloody," but the defenders, covered by their parapets which 
had the advantage of overlooking elevation, held their position. 

At this point the wounded drummer boy, Orion P. Howe, 
in the height of battle, handed Sherman a slip of paper from 
one of his officers asking a hurried supply of cartridges, 
"caliber 54." This incident was the subject of official report 
and of ' ' song and story. ' ' 

During the thickest of the assault, having left his horse in a 
ravine, General Grant came up on foot. Sherman pointed 
out the strength of the works. The assault had been repulsed 
along the line of the entire army. 

While conversing, an orderly handed Grant a message. 
Having read it he passed it to Sherman. It was from General 
McClernand, that "his troops had captured the rebel parapet 
on his front," that "the flag of the Union waived over the 
stronghold of Vicksburg," and urged "orders to Sherman 
and McPherson to press their attacks else the enemy should 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 229 

concentrate on him." Grant in his imperturbable way quietly 
retorted, " I don't believe a word of it." 

Whereupon Sherman reasoned that the message was official 
and could not be ignored, at the same time offering "to renew 
the assault at once with new men." 

Grant instantly started for McClernand's front with the 
parting instruction, "If you do not receive orders to the 
contrary by 3 p. m. try it again." 

Sherman, having promptly advanced new troops, at the 
limit hour hearing heavy firing on his left and "no orders 
to the contrary," repeated the attempt, which was "equally 
unsuccessful and bloody." The result to McPherson was 
similarly unfortunate in the loss of most valuable officers and 
men. 

In Sherman's words: 

General McClernand, instead of taking any single point of the rebel main 
parapet, had only taken one or two small outlying lunettes open at the rear 
where his men were at the mercy of the rebels behind their main parapet, 
and most of them w ere actually captured. 

This affair, and a published congratulatory order to his troops, 

claiming they had made a lodgment in Vicksburg but lost it, 

owing to Sherman and McPherson not performing their parts 

in the general plan of attack, all of which Sherman declared 

"simply untrue," led to General McClernand's removal from 

his command of the Thirteenth Corps. 

THE CITY BESIEGED. 

The natural strength of the position and determination of the 
garrison of upward of 30,000 trained men made it evident that 
Vicksburg was not to be taken by assault. It might be said 
here that Sherman, after visiting Stebastopol the celebrated 
Russian stronghold in the Crimea, pronounced "Vicksburg the 
more difficult of the two." 



230 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The siege now began. The city was completely invested. 
Sherman's corps lay on the right, with one of his divisions on 
the west bank of the river opposite the city, to prevent escape 
in that direction. The Yazoo River, which Sherman had fought 
over so hard, was, as originally contemplated, the base of sup- 
plies. His headquarters were on his center, close up to the 
works, and those of Grant very near by. 

During these events the enemy, having recovered from his 
haste in getting out of the way of Sherman at Jackson, was 
organizing a force on the Big Black, which had to be watched, 
its purpose being well understood as a demonstration in the 
rear in hope of enabling the garrison of Vicksburg to extricate 
itself from the clutches of Grant. 

SHERMAN DEFENDS THE BESIEGING ARMY FROM THE REAR. 
[JUNE-JULY, 1863.] 

To meet this menace an improvised army of observation com- 
posed of one division detailed from each corps in the trenches, 
making a force of 30,000 to 40,000 men, was assigned to Sher- 
man, who took an intrenched position on the west bank of the 
Big Black, while the enemy in plain view occupied works on 
the east. The enemy showing no disposition to cross, and 
Sherman having no orders to attack, these two forces remained 
in the same relative position from June 20 to July 4. 

On July 3 Grant wired Sherman that negotiations for 
surrender were in progress. Therefore to be prepared ' ' at 
a moment's notice to cross the Big Black" and "go for Joe 
Johnston." 

The General had high regard for the military genius of his 
antagonist, which was shared by Grant, who said "Johnston 
was about the only general on that side whom he feared." 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 231 

On the 4th, the birthday of the Republic, Vicksburg sur- 
rendered. The event was celebrated by Sherman at once 
' ' going for Joe Johnston. ' ' 

COMMANDS AN EXPEDITION AGAINST JACKSON. 
[JULY, 1863.] 

For this purpose on Jul}' 6 he was placed in command of an 
expeditionary army composed of the Ninth, Thirteenth, and 
Fifteenth Corps. During the next two days he pressed the 
enemy out of his defenses on the river and concentrated at Bol- 
ton. The news of the surrender, however, had preceded him, 
for which reason, without even a parting argument of shot and 
steel, the enemy beat a hurried retreat to Jackson, where he 
turned from behind strong intrenchments. Sherman closed 
with him on July n. After a siege of six days Johnston again 
"pulled out," pursued for 11 miles. 

Owing to the intense heat of a Mississippi midsummer sun 
and fearing fatalities to his command, which he reported, Grant 
ordered his return to his old camp on the Big Black. On July 
22 he resumed command of the Fifteenth Corps. 

Port Hudson surrendered four days after Vicksburg, as a 
natural result of that triumph. 

THE MISSISSIPPI CONTROLLED " UNVEXED TO THE SEA." 

Thus ended in complete success the most important strategic 
feature of the civil war, the control of the Mississippi River, as 
President Lincoln declared, "unvexed to the sea." 

The losses of Sherman's corps all told during the immediate 
operations around the city were, May 19, about 200; 22d, 600; 
and after, between July 11-16, less than 1,000. 



232 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In commenting upon this remarkable campaign General Sher- 
man in his Memoirs records — 

The campaign of Vicksburg in conception and execution belongs exclu- 
sively to General Grant, not only in the great whole, but in the one thou- 
sand details. * * * No commanding general in an}- army ever gave 
more of his personal attention to details or wrote so many of his own 
orders, reports, and letters as General Grant. 

In reward for these achievements Grant was promoted to 
major-general and Sherman and McPherson to brigadier-gen- 
eral in the Regular Army. 

SHERMAN'S VIEWS SOUGHT ON RECONSTRUCTION. 

A transformation had taken place not in the marches and 
sieges of war. While in his camp on Big Black about the 
last of August Sherman received an unofficial letter from 
General Halleck suggesting that the ' ' question of recon- 
struction in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas will soon 
come up for decision of the Government," and requested 
him to "consult with Grant, McPherson, and others of cool, 
good judgment, and write fully your views, as I may wish 
to use them with the President," but "not officially." From 
camp on September 17 he replied, in a letter bristling with 
foresight, philosophy, politics, judgment, and clothed in his 
most incisive style. The letter answers no purpose forty 
years after. When written if carried into effect as events 
progressed many complications and anomalous conditions 
might have been avoided. This letter, indicative of the 
greatness of a master mind, which is given in the General's 
Memoirs for the first time, makes instructive reading for 
the students of that era and phase of United States history. 
President Lincoln was so taken with it that he instructed 
General Halleck to secure its author's consent for publica- 
tion, which, however, was declined, "not wishing to be 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 233 

drawn into a newspaper controversy." The President, how- 
ever, often recalled it approvingly. 

In another letter, written on the same day, to General 
Rawlins, on the staff of General Grant, also inclosing the 
above for perusal by General Grant and to be forwarded to 
General Halleck, Sherman adverted to a point or two per- 
sonal to himself which are worth repeating. After calling 
attention to Professor Mahon's letter, inclosed, passing "a 
very marked encomium upon the campaign of Vicksburg," 
which "the General (Grant) might keep if he values such 
a testimonial," and disclaiming writing to General Halleck 
since the Chickasaw affair, except to thank him for the kind 
manner of transmitting his appointment of brigadier-general, 
he continues: 

I know that in Washington I am incomprehensible, because at the out- 
set I would not go it blind and rush headlong into a war unprepared and 
with an utter ignorance of its extent and purpose. I was then construed 
unsound, and now that I insist on war pure and simple, with no admixture 
of civil compromises, I am supposed to be vindictive. You remember 
what Polonius said to his son, Laertes: "Bew r are of entrance to a quarrel; 
but, being in, bear it that the opposed may beware of thee." What is 
true of a single man is equally true of a nation. 

The Army of the Tennessee had done its full share of war 
up to date and was resting on its honors in and about Vicks- 
burg. The defensive battle of Gettysburg had hurled back 
the tide of invasion. But troubles thickened as the autumn 
months rolled up in the central zone of the thousand miles 
of front between the Mississippi and the Potomac. General 
Grant was on a visit of conference with Banks at New Or- 
leans. Sherman was making himself and his corps of four 
divisions (Osterhaus, M. L. Smith, Tuttle, and Ewing ) com- 
fortable along the west bank of the Big Black, about 20 
miles east of Yieksburg, with his eye on four brigades of 
rebel cavalry, which in turn were eying him. 



234 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

A HURRY ORDER. 

This sylvan scene of a sudden was disturbed by the startling 
intelligence that Bragg, reen forced from Virginia, had fallen on 
Rosecrans at Chickamauga, had defeated and run him into 
Chattanooga, where he was in danger of finding himself short of 
rations. Coming so soon after the decisive successes at Vicks- 
burg and Gettysburg, in the language of Sherman, "the 
whole country seemed paralyzed and the authorities at Wash- 
ington were thoroughly stampeded." Troops were hurried 
from all directions to Rosecrans's relief. Sherman received 
orders (September 22) from Grant, at Vicksburg, to send one 
of his divisions into the city, which he did the same day. 
On the following day Sherman himself was summoned. 
Grant, showing the dispatches he had received from Halleck, 
gave him orders to leave one of his divisions on the Big Black, 
and with the rest of his corps prepare to follow at once. On 
the 28th two divisions of the corps, with Sherman in the lead, 
were embarked and reached Memphis October 12. At that 
point the overtaxed lines of Rosecrans's supply necessitated a 
movement by Sherman (who had received special orders to 
that effect), who marched east from Memphis, repairing the 
railroad from Corinth as far 'as Decatur, Ala.^ from which 
point he was to report to Rosecrans by letter. To Sherman, at 
Corinth, on the 16th, Grant announced his arrival at Memphis 
(October 14), with orders to proceed to Cairo and report by 
telegraph. 

The same day he received a dispatch from Halleck, at Wash- 
ington, relating to supplies for Rosecrans, and if not in strength 
sufficient to reach Athens he will at all events ' ' have assisted 
greatly by drawing away any part of the enemy's forces," 
leaving all matters "to his judgment as circumstances may 
arise." 



Sherman: A Mcmoriat Sketcli. 235 

At Iuka Sherman received orders by special messenger from 
Grant to drop all repairs of railroads and proceed as rapidly as 
possible to Chattanooga. 

At Eastport, while crossing the Tennessee and pressing 
toward Florence, Sherman was apprised of the assignment 
of General Grant ' ' to the command of the Military Division of 
the Mississippi, comprising the Departments of the Ohio, Cum- 
berland, and Tennessee, with authority to change them as he 
deemed most practicable ; " " any changes to be made on his 
request by telegram." 

COMMANDS THE DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE. 
[OCTOBEB li>, 1S6S-MARCH 12, 1864.] 

Under General Orders, No. 2, Military Division of the Mis- 
sissippi, Louisville, Ky., October 19, 1S63, Sherman was 
assigned to command of the Department and Army of the Ten- 
nessee, which he assumed on October 19. The army of that 
name now comprised the Fifteenth Corps (Blair), moving 
toward Chattanooga; Sixteenth (Hurlbut), at Memphis, and 
Seventeenth (McPherson), at Vicksburg. About the middle of 
October, near Tuscumbia, he received a message from Grant 
"to drop all work on the railroad, cross the Tennessee, and 
hurry eastward with all possible dispatch towards Bridgeport 
until he met further orders." 

At Iuka, having issued all orders necessary for his Depart- 
ment, including giving McPherson full power in Mississippi and 
Hurlbut in west Tennessee during his absence, and having 
ordered the assembling of a force of about 8,000 men out of the 
Sixteenth Corps, to be commanded by Gen. G. M. Dodge, with 
orders to follow as far as Athens for further instructions, he 
continued to Florence, arriving November 1, and twelve days 
later arrived at Bridgeport in advance of his column, which was, 
however, near by, approaching by several roads. 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 16 



236 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

As an illustration of his methods and his appreciation of the 
services of his officers it may be mentioned, during his forced 
march with his corps (fifteenth) from Memphis to Decatur, at 
Corinth, Sherman found General Dodge in command, to whom 
he had an open letter from General Grant. General Dodge 
being ill he sat by his bedside and read the letter, which directed 
him to take two divisions from his command and accompany 
Sherman. 

"Now, are you well enough to do what General Grant 
suggests?" 

"Yes." 

" All right ; I will give you plenty of time. You can bring 
up the rear. I will issue the orders. ' ' 

This was their first meeting. The two divisions were organ- 
ized into a corps. The services rendered by this officer form a 
conspicuous feature in the movements which led up to the vic- 
tory of Chattanooga and the success of the campaigns against 
Atlanta. 

AT CHATTANOOGA. 
[18(53-64.] 

At Chattanooga Sherman received word from Grant to 
"come to Chattanooga at once in person," leaving his troops 
to follow as rapidly as possible. 

As he left the boat the General found one of Grant's private 
horses to carry him to Chattanooga, where he arrived Novem- 
ber 15. He was most cordially welcomed by Grant, Thomas, 
and others, each of whom fully appreciated his herculean 
efforts to bring them succor. 

After surveying the scene the next morning from the parapet 
of one of the defenses, with Lookout Mountain and Missionary 
Ridge held by the enemy's batteries and a line of sentinels not 
1,000 yards distant in full sight, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 237 

" Why," said Sherman, addressing Grant, who accompanied 
him, " }'ou are besieged." 

"Yes," he responded, quite undisturbed; "it is too true;" 
then explaining the situation, which was far worse than 
Sherman had expected. 

The only recourse to instill new fire, in Grant's opinion, was 
for Sherman to take the initiative in an attack at the earliest 
moment on the enemy's position. 

In his personal inspection Grant had discovered that the 
opposing lines from Lookout Mountain to Chattanooga were 
not fortified on the northern acclivity of Missionary Ridge. 
He therefore directed Sherman to lay a new pontoon bridge 
over the river by night, cross, and attack on the right flank on 
that part of the ridge abutting on Chattanooga Creek near the 
tunnel. To better understand the work ahead, he proposed an 
examination of the ground. At a distance of 4 miles from a 
hill Grant and Sherman, accompanied by Thomas and several 
other officers, could take in the prospect they sought. Sher- 
man, to be better satisfied, leaving the party, attended by an 
officer, crept to the fringe of timber on the river bank at the 
point for the new bridge. Here he concealed himself for 
some time, having plain sight of the enemy's pickets, "almost 
hearing their words. ' ' 

The prospecting party having returned to Chattanooga, in 
in order to act promptly, upon which alone depended success. 
Sherman set out to instruct his divisions in person. Missing 
the steamboat he obtained a rough boat manned by four soldiers, 
in which he floated down the stream by night, often taking a 
hand himself with the oars. By daylight he reached Bridgeport, 
his destination. Putting one division in motion toward Tren- 
ton, with the purpose of making the enemy think his objective 
was to turn his left, the other three pursued the main road. 



238 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

FORTY ROUNDS IN THE CARTRIDGE BOX AND TWENTY IN 

THE POCKET. 

It was during this inarch that the badge of Sherman's Fif- 
teenth Corps had its origin. On the route an Irishman of the 
Fifteenth, having joined a camp fire of a party of the Twelfth, 
in the exchange of words Pat noticed everything marked with 
a star (the badge of the Twelfth Corps). Not having had time 
in the duty of a soldier of the "bloody Fifteenth" to learn of 
such new-fangled notions, he was naturally much nonplussed, 
but finally settled himself in the opinion that the Twelfth had 
a good many brigadiers. 

At length one of the men inquired to what corps Pat 
belonged. He replied with decided emphasis, "The Fifteenth, 
to be sure." 

"What is your badge?" asked the musket bearer of the 
Twelfth. 

Much perplexed, Pat retorted: "The devil wid your badge! 
Forty rounds in the cartridge box and twenty in the pocket, 
that's the badge for ye." 

General Logan, then in command of the Fifteenth, hearing 
of the incident, adopted Pat's "cartridge box" and legend 
"forty rounds" as the insignia of the Fifteenth. 

AGAIN ON THE OFFENSIVE. 

General Sherman and his Corps had marched about 275 
miles from Memphis over fearful roads, but notwithstanding the 
exhausted condition of his men and animals, owing to the 
extremity of the situation, General Grant ordered him into 
action the next day, November 21, although but one division 
had come up. Seeing the situation, the attack was postponed 
for two days, by which time, by the most extraordinary efforts, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 239 

he succeeded in posting three divisions behind the hills oppo- 
site the mouth of Chattanooga Creek prepared to open the 
decisive battle of Chattanooga. He dispatched a brigade under 
cover of the hills to North Chattanooga Creek to man the boats 
for the pontoon bridge, and at midnight dropped to a point 
above South Chattanooga Creek, where he landed two regi- 
ments. This advance force moved quietly down the creek, 
capturing the entire enemy's river picket save one man. This 
important advantage gained, he moved the entire brigade below 
the mouth of the creek, where he disembarked, his boats return- 
ing for the rest of the command. By daylight (24th) he had 
8,000 men on the east bank of the river where, he threw up rifle 
trenches as a tete-de-pont. During the same day he placed his 
pontoons over Chattanooga Creek, which formed a connection 
with two regiments left on the north side. Sherman says of 
this remarkable piece of work, "I doubt if the history of war 
can show a bridge of that extent, 1,350 feet long, laid so noise- 
lessly and well in so short a time." By noon pontoons were in 
position and his entire three divisions, men, horses, and artil- 
lery, safely over without a blow. 

MISSIONARY RIDGE. 

At 1 p. m. he advanced from the river in three columns in 
echelon, the column of direction following the Chattanooga 
Creek, the center in columns doubled on the center at one bri- 
gade interval right and rear, and the right in column at the 
same distance to the right rear, prepared to deploy to right to 
face if need be an enemy in that direction. A line of skirmish- 
ers with strong supports was thrown out along the front. 

A drizzling rain was falling. The clouds hung low, com- 
pletely covering the movement from the enemy. He soon 
found himself in force at the foothills, his skirmishers creeping 



240 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

up the steep acclivity. By 3 p. m. he had gained without 
loss or the knowledge of the enemy the point desired. 

A brigade from each division now pushed to the top of the 
hill. Not until then was the movement even suspected, and 
then too late, for the troops were in full possession. The 
enemy at once opened with artillery, to which Sherman 
promptly replied. At 4 p. m. the enemy feeling his left flank 
led to a lively engagement without effect. The troops were 
now in position to make the main assault upon the enemy's 
position on Missionary Ridge. 

At midnight he received Grant's order to engage at the 
"dawn of day," with assurance that Thomas would strike 
" early in the day." 

The attack in the direction of the ridge was involved in 
many difficulties, of nature chiefly an intervening valley, be- 
yond which, on the crest of the hill, stretched the enemy's 
breastworks of logs and earth. After this first line the enemy 
in force held a higher range beyond the tunnel, and was also 
massed to resist, turning the left flank, thus endangering his 
depot at Chickamauga station. 

At sunrise the bugles of Corse's troops sounded " Forward." 

This advance moved with effective impetus, gaining ground. 
By 10 a. m. both armies were engaged in a furious encounter, 
in which the mettle of both was put to the severest test. By 
3 p. m. Sherman had gained every advantage. Below him 
spread the vast amphitheater of Chattanooga, across which as 
far as the eye could scan he watched in vain for the attack of 
Thomas. 

At this point his position was not only critical but appalling 
even to his calm ess under the utmost pressure of battle. The 
enemy, not yet drawn off, determined by one desperate effort to 
overwhelm him, pushing his guns and men forward. From 




O co 
cr <o 
O » 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 241 

every hill and spur Sherman was now the target of a heavy, 
concentrated fire. 

Suddenly, to his intense relief, at 3 p. m., he detected the 
thin, white thread of musketry fire in front of Orchard Knoll, 
which indicated the movement of Thomas on the enemy's 
center. 

Sherman had the satisfaction of knowing that his own attack 
had concentrated the masses of the enemy to his own flank, 
and therefore felt certain of the result on the center. The fire, 
but a few moments before focused upon him, was now hurriedly 
turned to meet the advance of Thomas. 

As night closed over the scene Sherman enjoyed all the 
satisfaction of knowing that the troops in Chattanooga had 
swept across Missionary Ridge and broken the center. 

The victory was complete. The enemy, breaking in every 
direction, had abandoned his depot and supplies and everything 
else portable, being content to get beyond the mesh set for him 
by Grant. In his own words, " It was a magnificent battle in 
its conception, in its execution, and glorious results; nothing 
left for cavil or fault-finding. ' ' 

It seemed as if nature were acting in alliance with the martial 
splendor of the scene. The first day a lowering veil of mist 
obscured the movements for position from the overlooking 
enemy on the mountain top. The second was resplendently 
bright, as Sherman recalled it: "Many a time in the midst of 
its carnage and noise I could not help stopping to look across 
that vast field of battle to admire its sublimity." Sherman 
the next day, under orders from Grant, moved to sever connec- 
tion between Bragg, now in full retreat, and Longstreet at 
Knoxville. 

In his part of the battle at Chattanooga Sherman lost 1,686 
men, all told, out of his corps, including some very valuable 
officers. 



242 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

At Ringgold General Grant in person directed Sherman to 
discontinue his pursuit. That night they passed together at 
Graysville talking over the supposed danger to Burnside 130 
miles to the northeast. 

RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE. 

The next few days moving his column in the direction of the 
Hiawasse in search of forage and rest for his troops and horses, 
Sherman received an apologetic dispatch from Grant, "I am 
inclined to think I shall have to send you in command of all the 
forces now moving up the Tennessee, ' ' to relieve Burnside. ' ' I 
leave this matter to you," he added, " knowing that you will 
do better acting upon your own discretion than you could 
trammeled with instructions. ' ' 

Accordingly Sherman organized and cut loose. On the 
night of December 3, the limit set by Burnside of his ability to 
hold out, the advance of Sherman's cavalry entered the 
beleagured town with the head of his infantry but 15 miles 
distant. Longstreet on his approach raised the siege, retreating 
up the valley toward Virginia. 

As Sherman himself rode in he records, " In a large pen I 
saw a fine lot of cattle, which did not look like starvation." I 
found Burnside in a large, fine mansion, very comfortable. 

Their conversation turned on the pursuit of Longstreet, in 
which Sherman agreed to participate, although his men were 
utterly worn out with their forced march and suffering from the 
colder temperature of the mountains. 

They sat down to a " turkey dinner ' ' with all the equipments 

of home surroundings. In the words of Sherman: 

I had seen nothing of this kind in my field experience, and could not 
help exclaiming that I thought they were starving. * * * Had I 
known of this I should not have hurried my men so fast, but until I 
reached Knoxville I thought his troops actually were in danger of starva- 
tion. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 243 

Having relieved Burnside of his supposed embarrassment, 
Sherman returned in a leisurely march to Chattanooga, where 
he arrived about the middle of December. There he received 
orders to take his corps into winter quarters in northern 
Alabama. He established himself at Bridgeport and distributed 
the four divisions of the Fifteenth along the railroad from 
Stevenson to Decatur, and part of the Sixteenth, under Dodge, 
along the railroad from Decatur to Nashville. The programme 
in Grant's thoughts at that time was to open the spring cam- 
paign up the valley of the Tennessee into Virginia, as he even 
then regarded the campaign of 1864 as the last and most 
important of the war. 

THE THANKS OF CONGRESS. 

On February 21, 1864, by public resolution, approved on 

that day, ' ' the thanks of Congress and of the people of the 

United States" were — 

tendered to Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, commander of the Department 
and Army of the Tennessee, and the officers and soldiers who served under 
him for their gallant and arduous service in marching to the relief of the 
Army of the Cumberland, and for their gallantry and heroism in the 
battle of Chattanooga, which contributed in a great degree to the success 
of our armies in that glorious victory. 

This resolution was promulgated to the Army in general 
orders on the same day. 

THE EXPEDITION TO MERIDIAN, MISS. 
[FEBRUARY, 1864.] 

The Department of the Tennessee, over which Sherman 
held command, embraced the east bank of the Mississippi from 
Natchez to the Ohio River and thence up the Tennessee to 
Decatur and Bellefont, Ala., with McPherson (Seventeenth 
Corps) at Vicksburg, Hurlbut (Sixteenth Corps) at Memphis, 
and Dodge (part of the Sixteenth Corps) along the railroad 



244 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

toward Chattanooga. The enemy, with a large body of cav- 
alry, ranged at large in Mississippi, and Johnston, with a for- 
midable force of infantry, occupied his old territory. 

Sherman felt convinced that he could simplify matters by 
two quick movements inland, thus relieving a strong part of 
his command for operations on a better field. He placed his 
case before Grant, still at Nashville, and obtained permission 
to return to Vicksburg and strike one blow to the east, while 
Banks, from New Orleans, would deliver one to the west. 

Sherman proceeded to Memphis, where he organized a 
select force to unite with another at Vicksburg, in all 20,000 
men, for a sudden movement upon Meridian in February. 

Another force of 7,000 cavalry was collected from the garri- 
sons between Columbus, Ky., and Corinth, Miss., to move 
from Memphis simultaneously direct to Meridian " to do up" 
the enemy's cavalry, threatening railway communications and 
middle Tennessee. Through spies he obtained all necessary 
information concerning the force he might expect to encounter. 
Having suffered much from hasty public criticism, the General 
made it known that any person not associated with the Army 
found with the expeditionary column would be arrested, tried 
by drumhead court-martial, and shot. A correspondent who 
had been with him on many occasions, knowing his fixity in 
matters of that kind, as shown by an example on record, call- 
ing at his headquarters at Vicksburg for information, said: 

"General, I hear you propose to treat civilians as spies if 
found with the expedition." 

" Quite so, quite so." 

" Then it behooves me to remain in the rear." 

' ' What are you talking about ? You are not one of those 
fellows. You are a volunteer aid on McPherson's staff." 

"Oh, yes; beg pardon," and rode off. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 245 

The writer accordingly was the only member of the press 
present on that march, and his story the only one written by 
an eyewitness of its terrible warlike realities. 

On the 2d day of February the column, lightly equipped, 
began its march, without deployment, to Meridian, 150 miles 
distant. The enemy's cavalry vanished, and several attempts 
at infantry concentration gave way, as it approached. The 
enemy's light parties constantly hovered upon the flanks, in 
advance and rear, but finding the columns compact did not 
venture to engage. Showing the vigilance of the enemy, 
near Decatur, owing to a misunderstanding in the orders of a 
regiment, Sherman, for a few moments left unprotected, was 
aroused out of a much-needed sleep by shouts and firing. 
Gathering his orderlies and the few headquarters clerks, from 
an improvised defense in a corn crib he held the attacking 
party at bay until relieved by a regiment coming up on the run, 
which, deploying as it advanced, set the attackers scampering 
in all directions. 

About the middle of February, arriving at Meridian, the 
work of destruction of an arsenal, depots, and the railroads in 
all directions was carried to an extent not likely to cause trouble 
for many months. 

After a delay of five days and several Teconnoissances and no 
word of his cavalry cooperating force, the column took up its 
return march to Vicksburg. 

A story spread abroad that the ultimate destination of the 
expedition was Mobile was without foundation, being simply a 
ruse de guerre. In a letter before the expedition started Sher- 
man informed General Banks of au intention to keep up that 
delusion, while his real purpose was to be back in Vicksburg 
by March 1 in order to cooperate with him in his attack on 
Shreveport. 



246 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The object of his expedition was accomplished, being able to 
transfer 10,000 men for operations in Georgia. 

As for his cavalry from Memphis, they got off ten days behind 
time, were headed off, and "done up" by an inferior force. 
Sherman's first information of what befell them greeted him 
after his return. 

AT NEW ORLEANS. 

At Vicksburg he received letters from Banks about the Red 
River expedition and from Grant permitting him to give aid for 
a limited time, but insisting upon his return in person to Hunts- 
ville, Ala., to prepare for the spring campaign. Before doing 
so he visited General Banks at New Orleans on. the business in 
view. He found the military movement delayed in order to 
assist in inaugurating a civil governor of Louisiana. In urging 
upon him the importance of the civic occasion, ShErman men- 
tions, among the inducements presented to him, "an anvil cho- 
rus by the united bands of the army, the ringing of church 
bells, and firing of cannon by electricity." He regarded "all 
such ceremonies out of place at that time, when it seemed that 
every hour and every minute were due to war. ' ' 

As a consequence, he had no time for the "grand pageant," 
but left to join Grant at Nashville. The Red River expedition, 
to quote Sherman, was, in its result, "the most discredited 
affair of the national arms." 

At that time Banks was not under the authority of Grant, 
who, however, did concede a loan of 10,000 men for thirty days, 
much of which was spent in celebrating. Meanwhile Sher- 
man's Army of the Tennessee contingent got away from Vicks- 
burg on time, convoyed by Admiral Porter's fleet. One division 
landed and marched up and captured a fort below Alexandria, 
when the whole fleet of transports and convoys ascended, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 247 

arriving on the day appointed (March 17); the Banks end did 
not join them for some days later. 

The two divisions of Sherman's army were so long delayed 
on this unfortunate Red River expedition, and subsequently on 
the Mississippi, that they did not share with their comrades the 
achievements of the Atlanta campaign. In fact, did not join 
Sherman's army again until just in time to assist General 
Thomas to defeat Hood before Nashville nine months after. 

GRANT'S APPRECIATIVE TRIBUTE TO SHERMAN. 

On his way up the Mississippi occurred an incident which 
gives new luster to the characters of Grant and Sherman as 
soldiers and friends, as it brings into full light their inner con- 
sciousness of themselves and of each other. 

The story is told in an exchange of letters between the two 
distinguished parties, the first, dated March 4, 1864, from 
Grant to Sherman, delivered by an aid to the commanding 
general. 

After announcing the revival of the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and of his name being sent to the Senate for the place, 
he continues: 

While I have been eminently successful in this war, in at least gaining 
the confidence of the public, no one feels more than I how much of this 
success is due to the energy, skill, and the harmonious putting forth of 
that energy and skill, of those whom it has been my good fortune to have 
occupying subordinate positions under me. There are many officers to 
whom these remarks are applicable to a greater or a less degree, proportion- 
ate to their ability as soldiers; but what I want is to express my thanks to 
you and McPherson as the men to whom, above all others, I feel indebted 
for whatever I have had of success. How far your advice and suggestions 
have been of assistance, you know. How far your execution of whatever 
has been given you to do entitles you to the reward I am receiving, you 
can not know as well as I do. I feel all the gratitude this letter would 
express, giving it the most flattering construction. The word "you" I 
use in the plural, intending it for McPherson also. I should write to 
him, and will some day, but, starting in the morning, I do not know that 
I will find time just now. Your friend. 



248 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

SHERMAN'S PATHETIC TRIBUTE TO GRANT. 

In acknowledging from near Memphis on March 10 "your 

more than kind and characteristic letter," Sherman replies, 

"private and confidential," in an equalh' "characteristic" 

tone : 

You do yourself injustice and us too much honor in assigning to us so 
large a share of the merits which have led to your high advancement. 
You are now Washington's legitimate successor, and occupy a position of 
almost dangerous elevation; but if you can continue as heretofore to be 
yourself -simple, honest, and unpretending — -you will enjoy through life 
the respect and love of friends and the homage of millions of human 
beings who will award to you a large share for securing to them and their 
descendants a government of law and stability. I repeat, you do General 
McPherson and myself too much honor. At Belmont you manifested 
your traits, neither of us being near; at Donelson also you illustrated your 
whole character. I was not near, and General McPherson in too subordi- 
nate a capacity to influence you. Until you had won Donelson I confess I 
was almost cowed by the terrible array of anarchical elements that pre- 
sented themselves at every point; but that victory admitted the ray of 
light which I have followed ever since. I believe you are as brave, 
patriotic, and just as the great prototype Washington; as unselfish, kind- 
hearted, and honest as a man should be; but the chief characteristic of 
your nature is the simple faith in success you have always manifested, 
which I can liken to nothing else than the faith a Christian has in his 
Savior. This faith gave you victor} 7 at Shiloh and Yicksburg. Also when 
you have completed your best preparations you go into battle without 
hesitation, as at Chattanooga- no doubts, no reserves; and I tell you that 
it was this that made us act with confidence. I knew wherever I was that 
you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come — if alive. 
My only points of doubt were as to your knowledge of grand strategy and 
of books of science and history; but I confess your common sense seemed 
to have supplied all this. Now as to the future. Do not stay in Wash- 
ington. Halleck is better qualified than you are to stand the buffets of 
intrigue and policy. Come out West, take to yourself the whole Missis- 
sippi Yalley; let us make it dead sure. * Even in the seceded 
.States your word now would go further than a President's proclamation 
or an act of Congress. For God's sake and for your country's sake come 
out of Washington. I now exhort you to come out West. * * * 
There lies the seat of coming empire, and from tbe West, when our task 
is done, we will make short work of Charleston and Richmond and the 
impoverished coast of the Atlantic. Your sincere friend. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. ■ 249 

COMMANDS THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 
[MARCH 12, 1S64-.JI NK 27, I860.] 

General Sherman reached Memphis three days later. He 
there received a dispatch to come to Nashville in person by the 
17th (March). Upon his arrival General Grant informed him 
that he had been to. Washington and had orders to return East 
to command all the armies of the United States and personally 
the armies of the Potomac and the James. At the same time 
he (Sherman) would succeed to the command (G. O., 48, War 
Department, March 12, 1864) of the Military Division of the 
Mississippi — (Departments of the Ohio (Schofieldj, Cumber- 
land (Thomas ) , Tennessee ( McPherson ) , and Arkansas ( Steele ) . 

On March 18, in orders, General Sherman announced his 
assumption of his new command. 

A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS. 

It is necessary to digress here, else the story may not be told, 
as Sherman himself is its authority. General Grant announced 
that "they" were about to present him with a sword and 
desired Sherman to witness the ceremony. "They" strolled 
into the dining room, where Grant introduced his fellow- 
townsmen, the mayor, and another citizen of Galena, 111., no 
others being present except Mrs. Grant and family and the 
General's personal aids. 

The mayor read a finished speech, at the close of which he 
handed General Grant the formal resolutions of the city coun- 
cil engrossed on parchment, with a ribbon and broad seal. 

In reply, Grant said: " Mr. Mayor, as I knew that this cere- 
mony was to occur, and as I am not used to speaking, I have 
written something in reply." 

Sherman adds: 

He then began to fumble in his pockets, first in his breast coat, then 
his pants, vest, etc., and after considerable delay pulled out a crumpled 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 17 



250 Sherman: A Memo rial Sketch. 

piece of common yellow cartridge paper, which he handed to the mayor. 
* * * When read, however, the substance of his answer was most 
excellent, short, concise, and if it had been delivered by word of mouth 
would have been all that the occasion required. 

As Sherman well adds: 

I could not help laughing at a scene so characteristic of the man who 
then stood prominent before the country, and to whom all had turned as 
the only one qualified to guide the nation in a war that had become 
painfully critical. 

Another incident in point may be mentioned. The corps 
commanders were assembled at Nashville to meet Generals 
Grant and Sherman, the former as commander of all the 
armies of the United States, and the latter of the Military 
Division of the Mississippi. In order to while away the evening 
Sherman suggested the theater. They paid their way in as 
the rest and sat down in the front balcony row. ' ' Hamlet ' ' 
was the bill. The place was crowded with soldiers. Unable 
to stand such foul murder of his favorate hero, Sherman 
exclaimed excitedly: ' ' Dodge, that is no way to play Hamlet. ' ' 

"General, don't talk so loud, some of the boys will discover 
us, and then there'll be a scene not in the play." 

But his indignation was hard to repress. 

In the grave scene, during the soliloquy over the skull of 
Yorick, a soldier jumped up yelling from a back seat: "Say, 
pard, was it Yank or Reb?" 

The house came down. Grant making for the exit, observ- 
ing sotto voce. 

"Sherman, we had better get out of here or we'll be in a 
worse scrape than the enemy can set up for us. ' ' 

Out they went, in hasty retreat, just as the boys caught on. 

The effect of the Meridian expedition, as Sherman foresaw, 
was the transfer of two fine veteran divisions of 5,000 men each, 
idle in Vicksburg, to the main body of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee preparing for operations in Georgia. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 251 

And showing a touch of love in his instructions (March 14) 
to McPherson interposes, "steal a furlough and run to Balti- 
more incog, but get back in time to take part in the next great 
move." 

The visit suggested was to his lady love. He did not go, 
but sent a letter instead, by the hand of a newspaper friend 
(the writer), to a post-office beyond the lines, explaining the 
situation. The close of the campaign was expected to find 
him at the nuptial altar, instead he filled a soldier's grave. 

PLANNING A CLOSING CAMPAIGN. 

General Sherman accompanied General Grant as far as Cin- 
cinnati on his way East to assume the duties of his enlarged 
command in order to privately discuss a multitude of details 
incident to the preparations for the combined military move- 
ments in view. 

It was one of the favorite projects of Grant to make suitable 
provision in an active way for some of the officers of merit and 
prominence who had been elbowed out of command and shelved 
in the numerous shuffles of the earlier stages of the war, among 
them, McClellan, Burnside, and Fremont of the armies of the 
East, and Buell, McCook, Negley, and Crittenden of the armies 
of the West. Grant had reached a quasi supreme authority 
which enabled him to venture on so bold a stroke, as a balm to 
former humiliations and to allay discontent and as well to 
give these officers proper commands and a chance to regain 
lost prestige. 

In these pleasing abstractions Sherman heartily coincided and 
was specifically directed by Grant in his reorganization to keep 
this point in mind with reference to officers formerly in the 
armies under his command, indicating that he would do the 
same with reference to his. 



252 Sherman; A Memorial Sketch. 

The scheme, so reassuring in conversation, fell through, in 
some cases owing to the unwarranted expectations of the offi- 
cers themselves and in others the failure to win the approval of 
the still uppermost element in the original contention. The 
course of Grant had been entirely voluntary, yet he, and Sher- 
man as well, got nothing but criticism and censure for their 
magnanimity and their pains. 

During this conference General Grant also expressed a wisli 
to take some of the officers who had served under him in the 
West for positions of command in his new field. To this, how- 
ever, General Sherman strongly objected, wishing to have the 
old armies left intact. General Grant finally relented but 
insisted on Sheridan, notwithstanding the most urgent appeals. 

Both now turned their attention to the substantiate of the 
task before them. 

PREPARATIONS FOR THE INVASION OF GEORGIA. 
[AI'KIL-MAY, 1.H04.] 

Returning to Nashville, Sherman began making his arrange- 
ments for the complete control of the vast region already 
conquered, the protection of his lines of supply, and the 
mobilization and equipment of the proposed army of invasion 
of Georgia, which was to move in concert with Grant against 
Richmond. Thomas was at Chattanooga, McPherson at Hunts- 
ville, and Schofield at Knoxville. The enemy, under Gen. 
Joseph K. Johnston, was entrenched at Dalton with 40,000 to 
50,000 men and receiving reinforcements from Mississippi and 
Georgia. 

Sherman's army of invasion. 

The time originally fixed by General Grant for a simulta- 
neous advance of the armies, east and west, was May 1. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 253 

The subject of transportation, the most difficult problem in 
aggressive war, engaged Sherman's most minute attention, for, 
despite the unbounded valor of his men, he well understood the 
indispensable adjunct of abundant supplies of food, munitions, 
and clothing. He also made efforts to secure the return of his 
two loaned divisions, but the disaster on the Red River pre- 
cluded any expectations from that source. 

His other department, that of Arkansas, was not only remote, 
but so hopelessly involved in extricating Banks from his Red 
River dilemma that no dependence could be placed upon ft to 
contribute to the campaign. 

This department was subsequently transferred to the Military 
Division of the Gulf. 

The general of the Division was fortunate in having as army 
commanders men like Thomas, McPherson, and Schofielcl, dis- 
tinctive in adaptivity to their coordinate parts and en masse an 
invincible whole. 

The relative strength of the three armies at this time was: 



Present and Present for 
absent. duty. 



171,450 



Army of the Cumberland 

Army of the Tennessee : j f34 763 

Army of the Ohio 46, 052 



Total 352) 2 6 5 



ss, 883 

64,957 

26, 242 



[80,082 



From which deduct garrisons and railroad guards or net 
organized for field work: 

Army of the Cumberland 50, 000 

Army of the Tennessee 35, 000 

Army of the Ohio I ^ ) 000 

Total joo, 600 



254 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The organization of this force April 10, 1864, was: 

Army of the Cumberland. — Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, commanding; 
department staff, Brig. Gen. W. I). Whipple; Fourth Army Corps, Maj. 
Gen. 0. O. Howard; Fourteenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. J. M. Palmer; 
Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. J. Hooker; besides district 
commands, detachments, and unassigned infantry, cavalry, and artillery, 
350 guns and 12,733 serviceable horses. 

Army of the Tennessee. — Maj. Gen. J. B. McPherson, commanding; 
department staff, Col. W. T. Clark; Fifteenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. 
John A. Logan; Sixteenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. G. M. Dodge; Seven- 
teenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. Frank P. Blair. Signal detachment, 280 
guns and 9,807 serviceable horses. 

Army of the Ohio. — Maj. Gen. J. M. Schofield, commanding; Twenty- 
third Army Corps, Maj. Gen. J. D. Cox; Cavalry Corps, Maj. Gen. G. 
Stoneman. Besides districts. Six hundred and two guns, defenses of 
Knoxville, and 2,032 serviceable horses. 

FIELD ORDERS CONCERNING IMPEDIMENTA. 

To insure the mobility of this force the impedimenta were 
reduced to a minimum. Each officer and soldier in addition to 
equipment was ordered to carry on his person rations and cloth- 
ing for five days. Each regiment was limited to one wagon 
and one ambulance. Officers of each company were allowed 
but one pack horse or mule. Each division was to have a fair 
proportion of wagons for its supply train, limited to food, am- 
munition, and clothing. Tents weie forbidden, except to the 
sick and wounded, and only one allowed ,to headquarters, for 
office use. 

The General set the example, he and all officers about him 
being supplied each with a wall-tent fly, with no poles nor fur- 
niture, the former improvised on the spot by saplings, fence 
rails or posts. This example was uniformly followed by gen- 
eral officers, except General Thomas, who, though often quasi - 
seriously joked about it by the chief, took with him a regular 
headquarters camp, which got the name "Thomas's circus" 
among the troops. Sherman speaks of finding quartermasters 
hidden awav in the rear, surrounded by the luxury of tents 



Slur man: A Memorial Sketch. 



255 



and mess fixtures, which when discovered were broken up and 

the tents distributed to surgeons of brigades. 

As a result of these stringent orders, says Sherman: 

It is doubtful if ever any army went forth to battle with fewer impedi- 
menta and where the required and necessary supplies of food, ammuni- 
tion, and clothing were issued as called for so regularly and so well. 

On May 1 the actual armies ready to follow the lead of Sher- 
man into Georgia were: 





Infantry. 


Artillery. 


Cavalry. 


Total. 


Guns. 




54,568 
22, 437 
11,183 


2,377 

1,404 

679 


3,828 

624 

1,627 


60, 773 
24, 465 

13.559 


130 
96 












88, 188 


4,460 


6,149 


98, 797 


254 





The Army of the Tennessee was short two divisions not freed 
from the Red River service and part of the Seventeenth Corps 
on "veteran furlough," which joined later. 

To these armies were reported belonging April 10 24,572 
serviceable horses, but in the returns available not differentiated 
as to field, garrison, and supply service. The number of guns, 
in all 1 , 240^ attached to each army, already given, shows the 
relative strength of artillery assigned to field and garrison 
service . 

The above figures do not include the detached cavalry com- 
mands, as Stoneman, 4,000, Garrard, 4,500, and others smaller, 
constantly changing in strength and whereabouts on flying 
service on the extreme flanks or special detached duty. 

The strength of General Johnston's army at Dalton, Ga., on 
the same da} 7 was — 

Infantry 37-652 

Artillery 2, S12 

Cavalry 2, 392 

Total 42, 856 



256 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

grant's final orders and Sherman's reply. 

In letters of April 4 from Washington and 19 from Cul- 
peper General Grant directed that under all orders received by 
Sherman respecting the armies under his command the details 
were left to him as to plan and execution, that his objective 
was Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, then in defensive intrenchments 
at Dalton, Ga., "to follow him up closely and persistently so 
that no part might assist General Lee in Virginia," General 
Grant himself " undertaking to keep Lee busy." 

Sherman replied to the first letter on April 10: 

We are now all to act on a common plan converging on a common cen- 
ter, which looks like enlightened war. Like yourself you take the big- 
gest load and from me you shall have thorough and hearty cooperation. 

After outlining his plan of operations, Sherman closes in his 
epigrammatic way: 

Georgia has a million inhabitants. If the}" can live we should not 
starve. If the enemy interrupt our communications I will be absolved 
from all obligations to subsist on our own resources, and will feel per- 
fectly justified in taking whatever and wherever we can find. 

I will inspire my command with the feeling that beef and salt are all 
that is absolutely necessary to life, and that parched corn once fed General 
Jackson's army on that very ground. 

In his letter of 19th Grant cautioned him against a possibility 

in event of great success of a concentration on one or the other. 

If the enemy therefore [says Grant] on your front shows signs of join- 
ing Lee follow him up to the full extent of your ability. I will prevent 
the concentration of Lee \ipon your front if it is in the power of this army 
to do it. 

On April 28 Sherman renroved his headquarters to Chat- 
tanooga. May 5 was the alternate day fixed upon for the 
simultaneous advance of Grant in the East and Sherman in 
the West. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 257 

THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA. 
[MAY 5-DEOEMBEK 21, 1SG4.J 

On the day appointed Sherman accompanied by his field 
staff rode to Ringgold, where he gave the portentous command 
"Forward." The campaign in Georgia then began. 

It is not relevant nor practicable in the circumscribed space 
of a sketch of this character to follow the armies in then- 
respective details, but simply to convey an idea of the move- 
ment in illustration of the genius of its master mind. 

Fighting whenever and wherever necessary was Sherman's 
motto. Therefore only trimonthly reports of effective strength 
were called for. Sherman proceeded to deliver the deathblow 
to the Confederacy with his sword in one hand and a United 
States census table of i860 and report of the comptroller of 
Georgia in the other. 

General Dodge having completed the rebuilding of the rail- 
road from Decatur to Nashville several months before, was 
lying along that road and guarding the Tennessee River from 
Decatur west when he received an order to hasten to Chatta- 
nooga, arriving May 5. Sherman read to him the dispatches 
which had passed between General Grant and himself. 

"Now, Dodge, you see what you have to do. Where are 
your troops? ' ' 

' ' They are unloading. ' ' 

Turning to McPherson, " I think you had better send Dodge 
to take Ships Gap to-night." 

"General," said McPherson, "that is 30 miles away." 

"No matter," said Sherman, "let him try it." 

Sherman gave Dodge a map of the road and gap. 

Dodge did "try it," captured the gap, and pushed through. 
This movement enabled him to take Snake Creek Gap on the 
8th of May, placing him in the enemy's rear. 



258 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The movement was so successful that Sherman thought the 
Army of the Tennessee (McPherson) should have planted itself 
across the railroad near Resaca in Johnston's rear, which would 
have compelled Johnston to abandon his trains and fight or 
make a long detour to the east. The general always insisted 
had the 15,000 men in the movement planted itself squarely 
in front of Resaca it would have broken up Johnston's army 
right there. The quick surprise forced Johnston out of his 
impregnable position at Dalton and drove him south of the 
Oostenaula River. 

The next day Schofield (May 7), Thomas leading the col- 
umn of direction in force, advanced against Tunnel Hill. 

In principle Sherman proposed to depend more upon strategic 

maneuvering than frontal attack. When possible, therefore, to 

merely — 

press strongly at all points in front, ready to rush in upon first appearance 
of letting go and to catch the enemy in the confusion of retreat. 

After the battle of Dalton on May 14, as soon as Johnston 
discovered the Army of the Tennessee across the railway in 
front of Resaca and holding Snake Creek Gap, he immediately 
fell back towards Resaca. After the battle at that point he 
retreated south of that place. 

In the words of Sherman: 

We should have captured half of Johnston's army and all his artillery 
and wagons at the beginning of the campaign, [but] McPherson was 
justified by his orders. 

By the 15th Johnston had his army safe across the bridges 
in his rear, and was moving quickly to his next point of retro- 
grade defense. While Sherman's army was double that of 
the enemy, the latter had the advantage of natural obstacles, 
choice of position, and, to a degree, selection of time and place 
of battle. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 259 

The advance of pursuit encountered on the 17th the rear 
guard of the enemy near Adairsville. He, however, continued 
his retreat to Kingston where, on the 19th, Thomas deployed 
for action, but was refused, the enemy falling back "in echelon 
of divisions, steadily and in superb order" into Cassville, May 
19, all the way making strong resistance, seemingly for a fight 
at that point. The advancing armies had orders to close down 
on the place the next morning (20th), but the enemy had 
evacuated the position. On the 18th Rome was occupied by 
part of Sherman's force. 

The cavalry continued the pursuit, -a few days being util- 
ized by the infantry for rest, repair of the railroad, and bring- 
ing up supplies. The country was practically depopulated, 
the inhabitants fleeing and much encumbering Johnston's 
movements. 

An order of Johnston, picked up on the road, dated at Adairs- 
ville, stated that "he (Johnston) had retreated as far as 
strategy required; that the army must be prepared for battle 
at Cassville." The Southern newspapers were indulging 
in a fusillade of denunciation for falling back without a 
battle. His friends, however, insisted that his retrograde was 
designed to illure Sherman into his meshes so that he might 
suddenly assume the offensive and the more easily overwhelm 
him. 

This was playing precisely into Sherman's hands, as he was 
particularly desirous of one grand decisive test of strength at 
this period in his work, when his armies in numbers and fresh- 
ness were at their best, and before they had been necessarily 
depleted by drafts for railroad guards. 

The entire corps of Polk had now come up from Mississippi, 
which gave Johnston a formidable army of three corps — Hood's, 
Polk's, and Hardee's — aggregating 60,000 men. 



260 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In the words of SHERMAN: 

I could not then imagine why Johnston declined a battle (at Crssville). 
I never learned until after the war, and then from Johnston him: el". 

Ill brief, owing to an enfilading position attained by Sher- 
man's artillery, disagreements among corps commanders, and 
certain criticism of his movements, from which Johnston took 
offense. 

Sherman recalls in his "Memoirs" his visit ( already alluded 
to) to this country in 1S44, and the particular attention he gave 
to the topography about Kenesaw Mountain, Allatoona Pass, 
and the Etowah River. 

He knew, from observation, the strength of that famous Alla- 
toona Pass, difficult to seige by nature and difficult to force by 
arms. These facts led him not to try it by direct attack, but 
by strategic maneuvers from Kingston to Marietta, by way of 
Dallas. 

THE BATTLE OF DALLAS. 
[MAY 25-28, 1SC.4.1 

The advance was resumed on May 23, the movement contem- 
plating the leaving of the railroad and twenty days' dependence 
on the wagons. The country was wild, sparsely inhabited, and 
little known in detail, even on the maps. Thomas moved 
generally by the valley of the Kuharlee, a tributary of the 
Etowah, thence across a bridge, capturing a strong picket, and 
shaping toward Dallas, the point of destination. This was a 
place of concentration of a number of roads from all directions. 
Its occupation also was a menace to Marietta and Atlanta. 
The movement, however, at this time was simply to crowd 
Johnston out of the stronghold of Allatoona. 

On May 25 all columns were headed for the objective. Near 
a village called New Hope Church, an important crossroads 5 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 261 

miles north of Dallas, the movement encountered a considerable 
infantry force coming down from Allatoona, which developed 
into sanguinary fighting for ten days. So fierce was the 
onslaught on both sides that the men gave the locality, so 
religiously named, the alias Hell-hole. 

Notwithstanding the pouring rain, Sherman decided to 
renew the battle at daylight and effect a lodgment on the Dalton 
and Allatoona road. This movement revealed a strong line of 
entrenchments, supported by a heavy force. The renewed 
attack was without success. General Johnston was in personal 
command. 

On the 26th McPherson reached Dallas. In attempting to 
change position two days later from Dallas to Hooker's right 
he was viciously assailed. Although he repulsed the attack, 
inflicting heavy loss, he was unable to withdraw from Dallas and 
effect the proposed junction until June 1. 

During this time stubborn fighting attended every movement 
on either side. Both lines, which were from 6 to 10 miles in 
length, were well strengthened by rifle trenches to resist 
dashes. 

Sherman had secured possession of all the wagon roads 
between New Hope Church, Allatoona, and Aeworth. 

RESULTS OF THE OPERATIONS OF MAY. 

On June 4 Johnston, threatened with complete investment of 
all avenues of retreat, abandoned his position, leaving Alla- 
toona and Dallas entirely free. General Sherman at once 
moved his armies back to the railroad, which he occupied from 
Allatoona to Aeworth, toward Big Shanty, in sight of Kene- 
saw Mountain. The net result of the operations of the first 
month of the campaign was an advance of 100 miles, from 
Chattanooga to Big Shanty, overcoming every obstacle and 



262 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

securing complete control of as difficult a country as was ever 
fought over by a civilized army. This included the tenable 
positions of Dalton, Resaca, Cassville, Allatoona, and Dallas, 
with the army in condition to follow up this success by an 
immediate movement. 

The aggregate losses for May were, Army of the Cumberland, 
6,859; of the Tennessee, 1,271; and of the Ohio, 1,172; a 
total of 9,295, allowing one-fifth for killed. 

This may be regarded as showing approximately the pro- 
portion of fighting by each army. 

The reenforcements received by General Johnston before 

reaching Cassville were: 

Polk, Third Division 12, 000 

Martin, division of cavalry 3, 500 

Jackson, division of cavalry 3, 900 

Quarles, at New Hope Church 2, 200 

Total 21, 600 

Army at Dalton, opening of the campaign 42, 856 

Johnston's total at Kenesaw 64, 456 

The enemy's losses from Dalton to New Hope Church were 

5,893 — killed, 721; wounded, 4,672 — which does not include 

missing or prisoners. 

The whole number of these for the campaign of four and 

one-half months was 12,893 by name, which in due proportion 

would add 3,245 to the enemy's losses for May, or total 8,638 

against Sherman's 9,299. 

ESTABLISHES A SECONDARY BASE. 

The immediate attention of Sherman besides the recupera- 
tion of his army was the repair of the railroad to Allatoona 
station and the fortification of the place, leaving a garrison 
of 1,500 men as a secondary base. The three armies were 



SJiennan: A Memorial SketcJi. 263 

well in hand. The new regiments received and "furlough 
men ' ' returning about equaling the losses by casualties of 
battle, climate, and exposure. Their total numerical strength 
was therefore about 100,000 men. 

MOVEMENTS ON KENESAW. 
[MAY 28-JUNB 10, 1864.] 

On June 10 the entire army advanced 6 miles to Big 
Shanty, on the railroad. From this point the enemy's posi- 
tion was in plain view on the advance slopes of the three 
prominent elevations of Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains. 
The signal stations were conspicuous. The parapets were 
manned by masses of infantry on ground well chosen and 
prepared for battle. 

The defect of position afterwards remedied was length of 
line, 10 miles, for which the enemy's force of 64,000 men 
was inadequate. 

On the nth Sherman's skirmish line was within hailing 
distance of the enemy. An incident is mentioned of one of 
his locomotive engineers. A water station in advance was 
within range of the opposing batteries. The locomotive 
being "thirsty," the engineer proposed to satisfy it. He 
moved up and filled his tank, the enemy meanwhile firing 
at him with all his might. He then gracefully backed off, 
blowing his whistle exultantly, while the troops cheered lustily. 
The iron horse stood his ground and got off without a scratch. 

The defeat of Sturgis's cavalry on June 10 by Forrest's 
roving troopers increased the anxiety of Sherman of a raid 
on all the railroads in Tennessee. But the defeat of that 
doughty raider by A. J. Smith in July at Tupelo kept things 
so lively in Mississippi that Forrest was unable to trouble 
matters in Tennessee. 



264 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The extent of Sherman's lines confronting the enemy's 
position on the three mountains was about the same — 10 miles. 
He now gave his personal attention to reconnoitering his adver- 
sary's position with a view to piercing his line between Kene- 
saw and Pine mountains. The opposing battle fronts were not 
800 yards apart. 

While on this duty, not satisfied with the artillery practice, 
the General ordered a battery in position about 600 yards from 
the enemy, to give him three volleys in quick succession, and 
rode on. He heard the shots, but paid no attention to the 
effecL. 

The signal officers, having discovered the "key" to the sig- 
nals of the enemy, almost instantly interpreted a message from 
Pine Mountain to Marietta, "Send ambulance for General 
Polk's body," which was repeated later in the day, evidently 
on account of delay. This intelligence was confirmed by pris- 
oners brought in toward night. General Sherman always 
denied the well-meant romance that he fired the gun which 
killed Maj. Gen. (Bishop) Leonidas Polk. He did order up 
the battery and told it what to do, so constructively he was 
personally associated with that unexpected blow to the per- 
sonnel of command in Johnston's army. 

On the 15th Sherman, feeling his way forward, intending to 
attack any weak point he might develop between the two moun- 
tains, found that Johnston had contracted his lines to connect 
Kenesaw and Lost Mountain. The assets of the movement, 
however, were many prisoners, among them an entire Alabama 
regiment (Fourteenth) of 320 men. 

On the 1 8th, in another general advance, Lost Mountain was 
found abandoned. The enemy's position thus concentrated 
was evidently as dangerous for assault as a permanent fort. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 265 

FIELD DEFENSES A NOVELTY IN WAR. 

These impromptu line-of -battle defenses became a part of the 
tactics of both armies. 

They were then a novelty in the art of war, of purely Amer- 
ican origin, but are now generally adopted by all armies as 
among the exigencies presented by scientifically developed high- 
power long-range arms, great and small. These improvised 
hand-to-hand defenses, as it were, may be explained by way 
of description of the defensive strength of the confronting lines 
at Kenesaw Mountain and throughout the campaign. Upon 
reaching its forward or battle line of advance, the command 
felled trees and bushes for a distance of 100 yards on its front, 
which served as an abattis. A parapet of earth from 4 to 6 
feet high was thrown up from the ditch on the outside and 
formed a covered way inside. The parapet was surmounted by 
a head log 12 to 20 inches at the butt, laid along the interior of 
the crest, and rested in notches cut in other trunks, which 
extended to the rear, forming an inclined plane in event of the 
head log being forced inward by a cannon shot. 

The troops on both sides became very expert in this sort of 
field constructions. As soon as the command got into position, 
if the enemy were near, the work began. In a single night 
the position was secured against reasonable odds. To this 
extent every fighting command was its own pioneer corps. 
General Sherman improved on this system by organizing in 
each division a pioneer corps of negroes seeking refuge within 
his lines, whom he fed and paid $10 a month. The scheme 
acted to a charm. The negroes, backed by the incentive of 
hallelujahs and freedom, grub and greenbacks, made good use 
of the night and slept as chance offered during the day, while 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 iS 



266 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

the worn and tired soldier took his rest as he could at night, 
and was ready, fresh, and fierce for the fray during the day. 

On June 19 the enemy fell back on his flanks, which effected 
still greated concentration of his strength, at the same time 
covering Marietta and the railroad behind Kenesaw. 

THE BATTLE OF KENESAW. 
[JUNE 20-JUL1 t, 1S64.] 

On the '23d, at 2 p. m., a spirited brush took place at " Culp 
House." 

After a consultation with his army commanders the General 
decided to make no change of plan, but to boldly attack the 
fortified lines of the enemy. 

On the 27th, at 9 a. m. , the troops swung to the assault. The 
impact was furious. McPherson fought desperately up the face 
of Lesser Kenesaw, but could not reach the summit. The 
assault of Thomas, a mile to the right, below the Dallas road, 
carried the enemy's parapet only, but could go no farther. By 
1 1.30 the assault was halted. It was unsuccessful in that it 
had not succeeded in breaking the enemy's line at either point. 
But the men of both armies held their ground within a few 
yards of each other. This the}' secured by trenches of their 
own, which sprung up as if my magic. 

In the assault McPherson lost 500 and Thomas 2,000 killed 
and wounded. But the vantage of a foothold in the very teeth 
of the enemy, according to the humanities of war, was a fair 
equivalent. This was the severest struggle the armies had so 
far encountered. During the action Schofield was also busy, 
having gained a strong position threatening the enemy's line of 
retreat. Sherman promptly reenforced this advantage with 
cavalry, which also justified a further movement of this force 
to Fulton, 10 miles below Marietta. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 267 

Orders were issued and the column actually in motion for the 
fresh advance, when Johnston, detecting the movement, aban- 
doned Marietta and Kenesaw. 

Sherman at once put his troops in hot pursuit, hoping to 
overhaul the enemy at the crossing of the Chattahoochee, but 
the celerity of the retreat found his advance appearing in sight 
as the enemy's rear disappeared behind a line of powerful 
earthworks known as Smyrna camp ground. 

This feature of the defensive retrograde of the enemy was 
wholly unexpected. Every energy of the armies was strained 
in pursuit, in full confidence of catching Johnston in the act of 
transit from the north to the south side of that important 
natural obstacle. 

On July 3 Sherman rode into Marietta as the enemy's rear 
guard made its exit. 

The same night Thomas ran up against strong intrench- 
ments which covered the retreating force at Smyrna, 6 miles 
below Marietta. 

A REAE FOURTH OF JULV CELEBRATION. 

[1864.] 

It was part of the plan of Sherman to celebrate the ' ' Fourth ' ' 
by keeping the enemy interested in his patriotic demonstrations, 
while McPherson and Schofield were getting into position. 
The assault on Ruff's station, as it was known, was made on 
July 4 by the Sixteenth Corps when it attacked Hood's corps 
and carried that line of intreuchmeut, the only line carried by 
assault during the campaign. 

At night Johnston retreated and sheltered his troops and 
trains inside of his formidable tete-de-pont at the Chattahoochee 
crossing, as it afterwards proved, constructed in advance by his 



268 Skerman: A Memorial Sketch. 

orders, on the north bank of the Chattahoochee, covering the 
railroad crossing and his pontoon bridges. It was apparently 
his purpose to make this his last stand in defense of the impor- 
tant strategic city of Atlanta. 

This defensive construction was strong and well manned. 
About 3 miles out from the river the main road forked, the 
right extending along the railroad and the left to Paice's ferry, 
on the straight way to Atlanta. The latter route, strangely 
enough, was without defenses, which enabled Schofield to reach 
the ferry without a conflict. 

The right-hand road was covered by the tete-de-pout, which 
made the approach of Thomas difficult and combative. The 
first supposition of Sherman was that this opposition was a 
ruse to gain time for the enemy to swing his troops and wagons 
across the stream, but upon closer inspection he discovered that, 
by abattis and redoubts, presumably, the enemy designed to con- 
test his crossing. From an escaped negro he also learned about 
1,000 slaves had been employed on these constructions for a 
month or more, and their front extended from the river about 
i mile above the railroad bridge to Turner's ferry, about 6 
miles below. 

There had been a continuous battle from June io to July 3, 
when Johnston, despite the courage of his men and the skill of 
his formations, was again forced to take the "back track." 

The losses of Sherman's armies were: Cumberland, 5,531; 
Tennessee, 1,834; Ohio, 665; total, 7,530; the proportion of 
killed being about 24 per cent. The enemy, 3,94s killed 
and wounded — about 14 per cent killed — and 2,000 prisoners; 
total, 5,948; or, comparatively, Sherman, 7,530; Johnston, 
5-948. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 269 

CAMPAIGN GALLANTRY. 

During the operations in the vicinity of the Chattahoochee 
Garrard's cavalry, beyond the extreme left about 40 miles, cap- 
tured Roswell, a town of cotton and woolen factories. The 
factories were committed to the flames, but the disposition of 
the dimity heroines of the Confederate looms was a mooted 
question. 

The general, a gallant man, hit it. A blare of bugles sounded 
' ' Boots and saddles. ' ' A regiment of bold sabreurs was paraded. 
Each trooper took a pretty maid upon an improvised saddle- 
blanket pillion and so rode from Roswell to Marietta. As the 
cavalcade approached, the bands struck up and the men shouted 
to " The girl I have behind me." 

The general, thoughtful of their safety, sent them north out 
of harm's way. 

At Roswell the proprietor of the mills flew the French flag, 
which interrupted General Dodge in his hurried labors on the 
bridge. Writing to General Sherman setting forth a few 
points of possible international consequences, Sherman replied 
(July 11): "The bridge is important. You may destroy all 
Georgia to make it good and strong." This bridge was one of 
the most remarkable feats of the war. In two and one-half 
days* a double-track trestle road bridge 710 feet long and 14 
feet high was constructed and the Army of the Tennessee 
crossing. 

Sherman, having driven the enemy behind these works, held 
the river above for 18 miles to Roswell and 10 miles below to 
the mouth of the Sweetwater. He also occupied high ground 
overlooking the enemy's intrenched position and movements. 
The conditions in this respect were the reverse of Kenesaw. 



270 Sherma?t: A Memorial Sketch. 

CROSSING THE CHATTAHOOCHEE — APPROACHING ATLANTA. 
[JULY 12-17, 1S64.] 

From the hill back of Vinings Station the general could dis- 
tinguish in faint outline the spires and even less conspicuous 
habitations of Atlanta, 9 miles off, and detect ever}- movement 
in the intervening valley of the Chattahoochee. 

The activity of the enemy and the sight of extensive camps, 
train packs, and cavalry moving hither and thither led to an 
assumption that Johnston had transferred his main army south 
of the river, leaving a corps to cover the bridges and set up a 
show of opposition. Developments revealed that the cavalry 
and trains only had moved over and the main army was really 
» confronting Howard at Paices Ferry and Thomas at the tete- 
de-pont. 

The position of the enemy thus disposed on the north bank 
was strategically weak in the fact that Sherman, in control of 
the crossings above and below, could threaten his entire rear, 
or even Atlanta, the retention of which was of incalculable 
importance, not only to the very existence of the opposing 
army, but to what little was left of the prestige of the Confed- 
eracy. 

In his withdrawal from Kenesaw, Johnston left two breaks in 
the railroad, one above Marietta and the other near Vinings 
Station. Both were now restored, and a field wire was in touch 
with his bivouac. 

In this favorable situation of affairs the troops were posted in 
order of battle, away from the river, with a display of pickets 
and a few batteries at random for effect. From his left rear 
in a single move Sherman could reach the Chattahoochee 
above the railroad bridge, where there was a ford, besides pon- 
toons available for four bridges. Owing, however, to the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 271 

regular crossings being covered by forts of long construction, 
it was determined to manoeuver instead of making a frontal 
attack. 

It was now in the General's power to strike Atlanta or any 
of its forts direct, or by a circuit destroy the railroads in John- 
ston's rear. The weather was intensely hot, but the country- 
high and healthy. 

In prosecution of the strategy of the moment the cavalry 
were specially active on the right, apparently searching the river 
below Turners Ferry. McPherson was in position near that 
ferry. Thomas held the front of the enemy's work in forma- 
tion on the left in echelon, to Paices Ferry. The Sixteenth 
Corps and the cavalry were at Roswell. 

The theory of the movement was to feign on the right and 
move on the left. The Roswell crossing was in hand, but too 
distant to effectively support a frontal attack. During his 
maneuvers Schofield located what was needed at the mouth of 
Soaps Creek, whereupon, under orders, crossing, he entrenched 
on the east bank. 

A CAVALRY DIVERSION. 
[JULY, 1864.] 

During these movements in the main arena Rousseau, at 
Nashville, received orders to collect approximately 2,000 cav- 
alry from the garrisons of Tennessee, rendezvous them at 
Decatur, Ala., and thence by rapid marches strike Opelika, at 
which point sever the railroad links between Georgia and Ala- 
bama and thence join the main army about Atlanta, and if forced 
by circumstances, continue to Pensacola or strike for some gar- 
risoned post on the Mississippi. Rousseau, at his own request, 
was placed in command. He moved with laudable expedition, 
on July 9 crossing the Coosa below Ten Islands, thence the 



272 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Tallapoosa below Horseshoe Bend, passing through Talladega, 
striking the railroad west of Opelika, destroying 20 miles of 
track, thence turning north, reaching Marietta and reporting 
to Sherman before Atlanta within thirteen days of leaving 
Decatur. His loss on the expedition was but 12 killed and 30 
wounded. He brought in with him 400 captured mules, 300 
horses, and, as Sherman tells us, a good story. 

As for the story. One day on the march Rousseau halted at 
the inviting home of a planter and was met most affably b3 r the 
host. During the conversation the vigilant eye of the trooper 
espied a corral of fine mules. 

" My good sir," said the trooper, " I fear I must take some 
of your mules." 

"I contributed most generously," said the planter, "to the 
good cause only a week ago, giving General Roddy ten of the 
best." 

"Well," said the trooper, "in this war you should at least 
be neutral, or at all events as liberal to us as to Roddy." 

"Arn't you on our side?" rejoined the planter. 

"Oh, no; I am General Rousseau. All these men you see 
around are Yanks." 

"Great God, sir, Yanks! Who'd areckoned they'd ever 
come down here to bother us," sighed the overhasty planter. 

The clouds of dust which envelope a column of cavalry on a 
dry, midsummer day had so completely hidden the "blue" 
that the host assumed his unbidden guest to be of the "gray." 

An equal number of mules accompanied the Yankee raiders 
within the lines of the army pressing Johnston on the road to 
Atlanta. 

Schofield was across with his army and entrenched, with two 
pontoons finished and prepared to resist assault by the entire 
strength of the enemv. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 273 

The same day Garrard's cavalry takes the advance from 
Roswell, driving in the pickets and holding his ground until 
temporarily relieved by the Sixteenth Corps, followed by the 
whole of the Army of the Tennessee. 

That night Johnston decamped, leaving his well-laid plans 
and untenable trenches. As he left the Chattahoochee he 
burned the railroad bridge, his pontoons, and trestles. Sher- 
man was now in control of both banks. Johnston here lost 
his opportunity in making no strike while Sherman was 
deliberately and surely weaving his strategic web. 

On the far side of the Chattahoochee, hopelessly away from 
his original base and in sight of Atlanta, Sherman resolved on 
the utmost caution in all his movements, tactical or strategic, 
and so advised his army commanders. Thomas held the right, 
Schofield the center, and McPherson the left. A large quantity 
of stores had been assembled at Allatoona and Marietta. Both 
posts were well fortified and manned. 

The General spent from July 6 until he was ready to move en 
the 17th in strengthening his posts, crossing the Chattahoochee, 
and rearranging his garrisons in the rear. As long as the army 
in his front had its hands full there was no occasion for 
anxiety in the rear. In event of any let-up in aggressive oper- 
ations, detached parties let loose might be expected to play 
havoc with his communications. 

ATLANTA NEXT. 

On July 17 the direct movement against Atlanta, the object- 
ive of the campaign in its entirety, began. After crossing the 
Chattahoochee on pontoons Schofield moved to Cross Keys and 
McPherson to L,one Mountain, neither meeting with opposition 
except from cavalry. 

On the 1 8th, the army swinging on a right wheel, Thomas 



274 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

advanced to Buckhead, his line of battle facing Peach Tree 
Creek, Schofield on his left, and McPherson toward the rail- 
road, between Lone Mountain and Decatur. 

At 2 p. in. the latter had reached a point 4 miles from Stone 
Mountain, 7 miles east of Decatur. Thence he turned toward 
Atlanta, destroying the railroad, and reached Decatur the same 
night, where he came in communication with Schofield. 

BEFORE ATLANTA. 

On the morning of the iSth, through his spies, the General 
was apprised of the relief of General Johnston the day before 
by General Hood, in command of the Confederate army in front 
of Atlanta. General Schofield, who was a classmate at West 
Point, spoke of Hood as "bold even to rashness, and coura- 
geous in the extreme." To this Sherman added, " Then the 
change means fight; so I wish to have it. We'll settle it here." 

The entire arm}- was notified. Division commanders were 
directed to be at all times prepared for battle. The enemy, with 
Atlanta at his back, had the advantage of choosing the time and 
place of attack; also, working on inner lines, was able to mass a 
superior force against the weakest points. 

On the 19th all the armies were moved on converging routes 
upon Atlanta, McPherson astride the railroad near Decatur, 
Schofield along a road leading direct to the city, and Thomas 
across Peach Tree Creek, in order of battle, building bridges 
for each division as he deployed. This left a gap between 
Thomas and Schofield, which was closed by bringing part of 
Howard's corps nearer Schofield. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 275 

COMBATS OF PEACH TREE CREEK. 
[JULY 19-21, 1884.] 

On the 20th the enemy unexpectedly poured out of his 
trenches on the Peach Tree line, which Johnston had prepared 
as the point of battle outside of Atlanta. The impact fell upon 
Sherman's right, commanded by General Thomas (the 
Twentieth and parts of the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps). 
The opposing lines were soon at close quarters, at many points 
hand to hand. Thomas, who was on the spot, by ordering up 
his field batteries at a gallop to position on the north side of 
Peach Tree Creek, opened an enfilading fire on the exposed 
flank. After several hours of this crucial test of the staying 
powers of the combatants the enemy drew off, leaving 400 dead 
on the ground. The wounded, abandoned or carried off, were 
estimated at 4,000. 

The losses of the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps were light, 
being covered by slight parapets. The brunt of the sally 
having fallen upon the Twentieth (Hooker), that corps lost 
1,500. 

The failure of the attack was not only a great defeat to 
Hood's army, but resulted in a great derangement of his plans. 

This experience at once changed the character of the methods 
by which Sherman proposed to handle his vigorous antagonist. 

On the evening of the 21st of July he closed up to within 2 
miles of Atlanta, and on that day Force's brigade of L,eggett's 
division of Blair's (Seventeenth ) army corps carried a prominent 
hill, known as Bald or Leggett's Hill, which gave a view of 
Atlanta, and placed the city within range of his guns. 

The houses inside of Atlanta were in plain sight, yet between 
himself and this goal of his wonderful campaign lay parapets 



276 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

with ditches, fraise, cheveaux de frise, abattis, and a powerful 
enemy. 

A strategic point had been gained, and unless the swing of 
Sherman's left was stopped it would dangerously interfere with 
Hood's communications toward the south. Hood fully 
appreciated this, and determined upon his celebrated attack in 
the rear of General Sherman's army. 

closing UP. 

It was Sherman's purpose to destroy all the railroads east 
of Atlanta, and then withdraw quickly from the right flank and 
add to the left. 

In execution of this programme' McPherson received orders 
not to extend any farther to the left. Dodge, having been 
crowded out of position, was ordered to destroy the railroad 
from Decatur up to his skirmish line. 

Before these tactical arrangements were fully carried out 
Hood abandoned his Peachtree line on Schofield's and 
Thomas's front and fell back to the intrenchments proper of 
Atlanta, which bore a radius of a half mile. Sherman, pressing 
ahead proportionately, brought his lines so close up to Atlanta 
that his skirmishers were in touch with the enemy. Schofield 
kept pressing forward and Thomas could be heard banging 
away farther to the right. 

THE BATTLE OF ATLANTA." 

During the morning of July 22 certain movements were 
made with a view to completing the formation before Atlanta. 
General McPherson gave verbal orders to General Dodge in 



a The tactical movements of the battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864) are taken from 
the comprehensive and carefully prepared paper of Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, 
read before the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion; 
also letter to Gen. Green B. Raum, October 20, 1902. 



Slier man: A Memorial Sketch. 277 

relation to the Second Division of his corps (Sixteenth), which 
had been crowded out as the forces of Sherman neared 
Atlanta, directing him to take position on the left of the line 
which Blair had been instructed to occupy and intrench that 
morning. McPherson cautioned Dodge to make a strong pro- 
tection of his flank, and rode out to examine it himself, 
evidently anticipating trouble in that direction. 

These movements having been executed at midday, July 22, 
the position of the Army of the Tennessee was: One division of 
the Fifteenth Corps across and north of the Augusta Railway 
facing Atlanta, the balance of the Fifteenth and all of the 
Seventeenth Corps behind intrenchments running south of the 
railway along a ridge, with a gentle slope and clear valley facing 
Atlanta in front and another clear valley in the rear. The 
Sixteenth Corps was resting on the road, entirely in the rear of 
the Seventeenth and Fifteenth Corps and facing from Atlanta. 
To the left and left rear the country was heavily wooded. The 
enemy, therefore, was enabled, under cover of the forest, to 
approach close to the rear of our lines. 

On the night of July 21 Hood had transferred Hardee's 
corps and two divisions of Wheeler's cavalry to our rear, going 
around our left flank, Wheeler attacking Sprague's brigade, Six- 
teenth Army Corps, at Decatur, where our trains were parked. 
At daylight Stewart's and Cheatham's corps and the Georgia 
militia were withdrawn closer to Atlanta and in a position to 
attack simultaneously with Hardee, the plan thus involving the 
destroying of the Army of the Tennessee by attacking it in rear 
and front and the capturing of all its trains corralled at Decatur. 
Hardee's was the largest corps in Hood's army and according 
to Hood there were thus to move upon the Army of the Ten- 
nessee about 40,000 troops. 

The battle began within fifteen or twenty minutes of 12 o'clock 



278 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

noon and lasted until midnight. It covered the ground from 
the Howard House, along the entire front of the Fifteenth 
(Logan's) Corps, the Seventeenth (Blair's), and on the front 
of the Sixteenth, which was formed in the rear of the army, 
and on to Decatur, where Sprague's brigade of the Sixteenth 
Army Corps met and defeated Wheeler's cavalry — a distance 
of about 7 miles. 

With this view of the general features of the conflict, the 
severity and conditions of the impact of the two fighting forces 
may be better understood by adding a few details. 

As the battle opened, from his position with his corps 
(Sixteenth) General Dodge could see the enemy's entire front 
emerge from the opposite wood, overlapping both of his flanks. 

General McPherson, in general command of the Army of the 
Tennessee, being 2 miles away at the moment, General Dodge 
hurried an officer of his staff to Gen. G. A. Smith, requesting 
him to refuse his left and protect the gap between the Seven- 
teenth Corps and the right of the Sixteenth, to which he received 
a reply he would comply. As the battle progressed, seeing 
no movement as proposed, Dodge reiterated his request, 
adding the enemy was passing his right flank, which was 
nearly opposite Smith's center, urging him to refuse his left 
immediately or he would be cut off. Upon reaching Smith this 
second officer found him just becoming engaged, having received 
orders to hold his line- — that other troops would be thrown 
into the gap. 

As the later messenger was returning he met McPherson 
with but few attendants and warned him that the enemy held 
the woods and was advancing. Without heeding this caution 
McPherson rode on, followed by Dodge's aid. Proceeding but 
a short distance they were commanded to halt. McPherson 
and party, wheeling their horses, were followed by a heavy 




2 CO 
± HI 

°i 

i ^ 

c/l r- 



Sherman: A Memorial SketcJi. 279 

volley. McPherson fell, and the horses, becoming unmanage- 
able, plunged into the underbrush. Dodge's aid was knocked 
insensible by coming in contact with a tree. Upon recoverin°- 
from the blow he returned afoot to his chief. His watch, hav- 
ing stopped from the shock at 2 p. m. , fixed the hour of McPher- 
son' s death. 

McPherson had witnessed the decisive grapple of the Six- 
teenth Corps with the charging columns of the enemy, massed 
three or four lines deep, moving out of the timber several hun- 
dred yards from Dodge's position. 

This force halted upon gaining the open field and opened a 
rapid and well-directed fire on the Sixteenth. 

The enemy was evidently surprised to encounter this opposi- 
tion in line of battle, prepared for attack. The Sixteenth 
returned the fire from the divisions of Fuller and Sweeney, 
which hurled them back in disorder under cover of the woods. 

The enemy's lines were quickly re-formed, and again moved 
up to the attack with an evident determination to carry the 
position. Their artillery, in the woods on higher ground, 
hurled shot and shell into the ranks of the Sixteenth. 

This advance was met with a deadly fire from Fuller and 
Sweeney, a portion of Fuller's brigade changing front to meet 
it, and the guns of the Fourteenth Ohio and Walker's batteries 
of the Sixteenth. Notwithstanding the swaths cut in his lines, 
the enemy moved forward with great steadiness, closing up and 
preserving his alignment until near the center of the field, when 
the men broke in great confusion. Dodge, with parts of his 
own forces, taking advantage of the opportunity, made a bayo- 
net charge, driving the enemy into the woods, capturing 
many prisoners. Upon the persons of some of these prisoners 
were found McPherson's papers, field glass, etc., which con- 
veyed the first knowledge of his death. Seeing that the papers 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 19 



280 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

were important, Dodge sent them by his chief of staff, with all 
haste, to General Sherman. 

General Strong, the only staff officer with McPherson at the 
critical moment of this assault, afterwards spoke of McPherson 's 
admiration of the coolness and determination of the Sixteenth 
and his confidence in Dodge being able to maintain himself 
until the movements on the other parts of the field were equally 
successful. 

As Hardee's attack fell upon the Sixteenth Army Corps, his 
left division (Clebum's) lapped over and beyond Blair's left 
and swung around his left front, pouring down through the gap 
between the left of the Seventeenth and the right of the Six- 
teenth Corps, taking Blair in front, flank, and rear. Cheatham's 
corps moved out of Atlanta and attacked in Blair's front. Gen. 
Giles A. Smith commanded Blair's left division his right con- 
necting with Leggett at Bald Hill, where L,eggett's division 
held the line until they connected with the Fifteenth Corps, 
and along this front the battle raged with great fury. 

As Cleburn advanced along the open space between the Six- 
teenth and Seventeenth Corps he cut off from Blair's left and 
captured a portion of two regiments of his command, forcing 
the Seventeenth Corps to form new lines, utilizing the old 
intrenchments thrown up by the enemy, fighting first on one 
side and then on the other, as the attack would come from 
Hardee in the rear or Cheatham in the front, until about 3.30 
p. m. when, after a lull, an extraordinary effort was made by 
the enemy to wipe out Giles A. Smith's division and capture 
L,eggett's hill, the enemy approaching under cover of the woods 
until within 50 yards of Smith's temporary position, when he 
pressed forward until the fight became a hand-to-hand conflict 
across the trenches occupied by Smith, the troops using bayonet 
freely and the officers their swords. This attack failed; it was 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 281 

no doubt timed to occur at the same time that Cheatham's 
corps attacked from the Atlanta front, which Leggett met. 
The brunt of Cheatham's attack was against Leggett's hill, the 
key to the position of that portion of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee. Gen, Giles A. Smith's division had to give up the 
works they occupied and fall into line at right angles with Leg- 
gett' s division, L,eggett's hill being the apex of the formation; 
and here, for three-quarters of an hour, more desperate fighting 
was done around this position than can be described. Up to 
midnight the enemy occupied one side of the works while we 
occupied the other, neither side giving way until Hood saw 
that the whole attack was a failure, when those of the enemj' 
who were on the outside of the works finally surrendered. 
Their attack at this angle was determined and resolute, advanc- 
ing up to our breastworks on the crest of the hill, planting their 
flag side by side with ours, and fighting hand to hand until it 
grew so dark that nothing could be seen but the flash of the 
guns from the opposite side of the works. The ground covered 
by these attacks was literally strewn with the dead of both sides. 
The loss of Blair's corps was 1,801 killed, wounded, and missing. 
Blair's left struck in the rear flank, and front gave way slowly, 
gradually, fighting for every inch of ground until their left 
was opposite the right flank of the Sixteenth Corps, where they 
halted and held the enemy, refusing to give another inch. 

The Sixteenth Corps met the shock of battle with two small 
divisions of three brigades each, against three times their num- 
ber, and fired the last gun late at night, when the enemy stub- 
bornly yielded his grasp on Bald Hill. It fought on four parts 
of the field with equal success, lost no gun which it took into 
action. Its losses were in killed and wounded. The few miss- 
ing were captured at Decatur, where they became mired in a 
swamp. 



282 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Sprague's brigade, of the same corps, on another field, at 
Decatur, within hearing, fought with great obstinacy until it 
gained a position from which it could not be driven, thus 
saving the entire trains of the army. 

The annals of war afford no parallel to the fighting of the 
Seventeenth Corps, first from one side and then from the 
other of its works. So close were the opposing lines that 
Belknap, of the Seventeenth, seizing a colonel of an Alabama 
regiment, drew him over the breastworks, taking him prisoner. 

At 4 p. m. Cheatham's Corps of the enemy renewed the 
attack on the front of the Fifteenth Corps, advancing in solid 
masses, which was repelled, until the enemy, under cover of a 
deep cut in the railway, slipped through the rear of that corps, 
thus passing the intrenchments of the Fifteenth, forcing it 
back to the line of works in the rear of the position from which 
it had moved in the morning. 

At the request of General Logan, now in command of the 
Army of the Tennessee, General Dodge moved a brigade of the 
Sixteenth, although many of the men had ended their enlist- 
ment, to the relief of the Fifteenth, which resulted in a general 
charge and recapture of the intrenchments and guns. The 
continuous attacks of the enemy, reaching within 100 feet of 
our lines, made no impression, until finally the enemy refused 
to move forward on account of the deadly fire, one-half of their 
number having been killed, wounded, or captured. 

At dark the enemy retired discomfited at all points except 
around the angle in the Seventeenth Corps, known as Deggett's 
or Bald Hill. Here there was a continuous fire and at close 
quarters, the enemy in places occupying ground close up to our 
intrenchments. To relieve the men of the Seventeenth Corps 
holding this angle, who were worn out, at the request of 
General Blair, General Dodge sent two regiments of Mercer's 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch, 283 

brigade, whose men crawled in on their hands and knees, and 
swept the enemy from that front. 

The Army of the Tennessee had present on that day at 
Atlanta and Decatur about 26,000 men — 10,000 in the Fifteenth 
Army Corps, 9,000 in the Sixteenth Corps, and 7,000 in the 
Seventeenth. About 21,000 of these were in line of battle. 
Three brigades of the Sixteenth Corps were absent, the Six- 
teenth Corps having 5,000 men in a single line which received 
the attack of the three divisions of Hardee's corps, Hardee's 
left, Cleburn's division lapping the extreme left of Blair and 
joining Cheatham's corps, Which attacked Blair from the 
Atlanta front, and according to Hood they were joined by the 
Georgia militia under General Smith, extending down the line 
in front of the Army of Ohio and Cumberland. Stewart's 
corps occupied the works and held the lines in front of the 
Army of the Cumberland. The Sixteenth Army Corps fought 
in the open ground; the Fifteenth and Seventeenth behind 
intrenchments. 

The whole of Hood's army, except Stewart's corps, thrown 
into our rear upon the flank and the front of the Army of the 
Tennessee, after fighting from midday until dark was repulsed 
and driven back from the entire battlefield, demonstrating that 
the Army of the Tennessee alone was able and competent to 
meet and defeat Hood's entire strength. The battle fell almost 
entirely upon the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps and two 
divisions of the Fifteenth Corps, three brigades of the Six- 
teenth being absent. The attack of the enemy was made 
along this line seven times and was seven times repulsed. 

The Army of the Tennessee captured 18 stands of colors, 
5,000 stands of arms, 2,017 prisoners. It lost in killed and 
wounded 3,521 men, 10 pieces of artillery, and over 1,800 men, 
mostly from Blair's corps, taken prisoners. The enemy's dead 



284 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

reported buried in front of the different corps was over 2,000 
and the enemy's total loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, 
8,000. 

ONE OF THE DECISIVE BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR. 

The battle of Atlanta will rank with the great conflicts of 
arms of the civil war. It will stand with Gettysburg for the 
valor and resolution displayed by both armies and the decisive 
results of victory for the Union cause. Had the Army of the 
Potomac failed, the enemy would have had Pennsylvania and 
the North at his mercy. Had the Army of the Tennessee 
failed, notwithstanding the presence of the Armies of the Cum- 
berland and Ohio, there might have followed tactical complica- 
tion which would have tested the military genius of SHERMAN 
to the utmost. 

General Dodge held the key to the position. Had his men 
(the Sixteenth Corps ) given way, the enemy would have been 
in the rear of the Seventeenth and Fifteenth Corps and would 
have swept over the supply trains. 

The position of the Army of the Tennessee would have been 
perilous in the extreme, and the Armies of the Cumberland and 
Ohio would have had a test of metal further on. 

There has been some criticism of General Sherman respect- 
ing the battle of Atlanta from the fact that two armies, of the 
Ohio, about two-thirds of the strength of that of the Tennessee 
and of the Cumberland, the largest of the three composing the 
military division, were not engaged. The answer by General 
Dodge, who bore the brunt of the onset and was desperately 
engaged throughout the entire conflict, is: 

General Sherman urged Thomas to make the attack. Thomas's answer 
was that the enemy were in full force behind his intrenchments. The 
fact was Stewart's corps was guarding that front. General Schofield 
urged Sherman to allow him to throw his army upon Cheatham's flank, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 285 

and endeavor to roll up the Confederate line, and so interpose between 
Atlanta and Cheatham's corps, which was so persistently attacking the 
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps from the Atlanta front. Sherman, 
whose anxiety had been very great, seeing how successfully we were 
meeting the attack, his face relaxing into a pleasant smile, said to Scho- 
field, "Let the Army of the Tennessee fight it out this time." This flank 
attack of Schofield on Cheatham would have no doubt cleared our front 
facing Atlanta intrenchments, but .Stewart was ready with his three 
divisions and the militia to hold the Atlanta intrenchments. 

General Sherman, in speaking of this battle, always regretted that he 
did not allow Schofield to attack as he suggested and also force the fight- 
ing on Thomas's front, but no doubt the loss of McPherson took his atten- 
tion from everything except the Army of the Tennessee. 

On the night of the 22d, about 10 o'clock, at a conference of 
the corps commanders (one of them in command of the Army) 
of the Army of the Tennessee on the results of the da}- it was 
concluded that the Armies of the Cumberland and Ohio, which 
had not been in the fight, should send a force to relieve Blair, 
when one of their number was requested to present the matter 
to the commanding general. 

When he reached Sherman, who was somewhat surprised, 
the General, after speaking of the loss of McPherson, listened to 
what his caller had to say, and, turning vehemently, observed: 

"Dodge, you whipped them to-day, didn't you?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"Can't you do it again to-morrow?" 

"Yes, sir," said the messenger, bade him good night, 
and went back to his command, determined never to go 
upon another such errand. As General Sherman explained 
afterwards, he wanted it said that the Army of the Ten- 
nessee had fought the great battle that day needing no help, 
no aid, and that it could be said that all alone it had whipped 
the whole of Hood's army. Therefore he let them hold their 
position and their line, knowing that Hood would not dare to 
attack after the ' ' thrashing ' ' he had already received. 



286 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In this, the greatest battle of the campaign, the little Army 
of the Tennessee met the entire Confederate army, secretly 
thrust to its rear, on its flank, and upon its advance center. 
Its idolized commander was killed in the first shock of battle. 
Nightfall found the enemy's dead and wounded on its front, 
showing that no disaster, no temporary rebuff, could discourage 
this army. Every man stood at his post; every man did a 
hero's duty. They might be destroyed, but never made to 
run. They were invincible. 

OPERATIONS AROUND AND SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 
[JULY 22-KEPTEMBEK 2, 1864.] 

The general in chief now grouped his command, proposing 
to attack the Macon railroad at or below East Point. 

About this time he received a letter from General Grant that 
the government at Richmond was aroused by the critical con- 
dition of affairs, and particularly his operations in Georgia, to 
look out for the reenforcement of Hood. He appreciated the 
possible danger from this source and that he had no time for 
delay. He therefore proposed to carry out his original plan to 
destroj 7 the railroad and cut off all supplies reaching the inhab- 
itants and arm} 7 in Atlanta, by which means he expected to 
force Hood to evacuate or come out and fight. He was now 
250 miles in advance of his base, dependent upon a single line 
of railroad for all supplies, and a desperate and courageous foe 
intrenched in front, with communications open for reenforce- 
ments. 

Gen. O. O. Howard, on July 27, succeeded to the command 
of the Army of the Tennessee. 

On July 27 a cavalry expedition got away for Macon and 
Andersonville to release 23,000 Union soldiers. The object, 
however, was not accomplished. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 287 

On the 28th began the movement of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee to the right to make a lodgment on the railroad in the 
neighborhood of East Point. About 11 a. m. this force was 
attacked on the right flank, held by Logan, until 3 p. m. The 
enemy, after six charges, was repulsed with great loss. 

It now became apparent that the failures of July 22 and 28 
had sadly shaken the morale of Hood's forces. 

PRESIDENTIAL PLEASANTRIES. 

After the success thus far achieved, Sherman began to feel 
it was time some of his officers should be remembered ' ' a peg 
or two" at Washington, especially as promotions were being 
passed around in other directions. 

On July 25 he made his views known to the Inspector-Gen- 
eral in this vigorous fashion : "If the rear be the post of honor 
then we had better change front on Washington. 

The General was somewhat taken aback by receiving a dis- 
patch from the President the next day eulogistic of the serv- 
ices of himself and the officers of his command, assuring him of 
their full share of the ' ' honors and rewards of war, '.' at the 
same time reminiscently calling to mind two promotions he had 
made on the " recommendation of Generals Grant and Sher- 
man," to which the latter entered an explanatory rejoinder 
"those were for services at Vicksburg, while his later reminder, 
which he had not supposed would reach his (the President's) 
eye, applied to Atlanta." Two days later (July 28), while 
the Army of the Tennessee, during a change of position, was 
resisting another formidable sally, "Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, 
commanding," was called upon to nominate eight colonels to 
be brigadier-generals. The officers were selected through the 
army commanders, three from each of the Armies of the 
Tennessee and Cumberland and two from the Ohio. A more 



288 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

battle-seasoned, braver octave of volunteer eagles never donned 
the dual stars. 

It was now the summer solstice month of August, hot, but 
healthy. Atlanta was in the tightening embrace of a relentless 
siege. The skirmish line, covered with rifle trenches, was close 
up and the exchange of musketry going on day and night. 
The main lines were but a few yards in the background, with 
muskets loaded and stacked ready for immediate action. The 
field batteries, covered by parapets, occupied selected points of 
vantage at intervals, from which missives, a constant reminder 
of war, were sent whistling into the city. The troops occupied 
huts of their own construction and were content and deter- 
mined. The general formation remained unchanged. Two 
divisions of the Fourteenth Corps were camped in reserve on 
the right rear. A few minor modifications were made during 
the progress of the siege, as necessitated by circumstances. 

CAVALRY MOVEMENTS. 

The cavalry of McCook had crossed the Chattahoochee below 
Campbellton, marching rapidly to the Macon Railroad at Love- 
joy, where he was disappointed in not meeting Stoneman. 
After destroying the track, cars, and telegraph, and burning a 
train of 500 wagons from Atlanta, killing 800 mules, and cap- 
turing 2 officers and 350 men, he found his further progress 
opposed by a superior force, but fought his way back to the 
main army with a loss of 600 men. Rumors were coming in 
about disasters to Stoneman on the east bank of the Okmulgee, 
near Macon. On August 4 this discomforting news was sus- 
tained by a fragment of his cavalry, which brought up at 
Marietta much the worse for its experience. These tidings 
were additionally confirmed from General Grant's headquarters 
before Richmond. Another detached party also found its way 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 289 

under cover. This was the last of Stoneman, who, having dis- 
obeyed orders in not attacking the railroad before proceeding to 
Macon, soon discovered himself in the meshes. Having crossed 
the Okmulgee near Covington, he moved down the east bank, 
striking the railroad at Griswold, where he destroyed 17 loco- 
motives and 100 cars. Here he struck for Clinton, where he 
found his withdrawal opposed, as he supposed, by a superior 
force. With a small party of 700 men he held his position 
while the two brigades alluded to forced their way out of the 
trap, leaving their commander to surrender. 

This venture satisfied the General that only his main army 
was capable of making a lodgment on the railroad below 
Atlanta. Therefore, without further to do, Schofield was 
intrusted with the attempt, for which he was supplied with the 
Fourteenth and Twenty-third Corps, comprising 29,145 infan- 
try, 2,596 artillery, and 1,750 cavalry — 32,491 men. His object- 
ive was the railroad anywhere about East Point. He well 
understood that the possession of the Macon road would coerce 
the evacuation of Atlanta, the " Gate City of the South," with 
its foundries, arsenal, machine shops, and other facilities for 
manufactures and supplies for warlike ends. The moral effect, 
too, would be to sound the death knell of the " Southern Con- 
federacy." With all these temptations in view, his paramount 
purpose, however, was the capture, if possible, of Hood's arm}-. 

Bv way of diversion, Sherman strengthened his batteries 
converging on Atlanta, advanced his infantry lines, shortening 
the investment, but was not willing to essay an assault except 
a favorable opportunity offered. Hood at the same time was 
making efforts to threaten his rear. 

Owing to the disaster to Stoneman and having abandoned 
further attempt to make cavalry do the work of infantry, that 
arm was reorganized by placing Kilpatrick, who was new in 



290 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

this field, to support Schofield's exposed flank and Garrard on 
the general left. McCook was in reserve about Marietta and 
the railroad. 

MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY. 

On August 12 the news of Admiral Farragut's capture of 
Mobile Bay reached headquarters. About the same time the 
equally pleasing intelligence, not only personal to the General, 
but to the entire Army, was his own promotion (August 12) 
to the rank of major-general in the Regular Army. This act 
of merited reward was somewhat disappointing just at that 
moment, as the General, for his own satisfaction, did not wish 
the recognition until after he had captured Atlanta, thereby 
signalizing that event. 

General Hood was still determined to hold the city, 
' ' though every house in it was battered down ' ' by artillery 
and every inhabitant — man, woman, and child — slain hy 
Sherman's incessant and close-up musketry. 

The only alternative was to decoy him out of his strong- 
hold or raise the siege and destroy his communications. 

RAIDING SHERMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS. 

About the middle of August, as the General was about to 
avail himself of the second alternative, Hood's cavalry at- 
tacked the line of communication above Resaca, capturing 
1 ,000 head of cattle. Another force appeared in the vicinity 
of Allatoona and Etowah bridge. It was clear that Hood 
had sent all his mounted force to raid the railroad. 

COUNTER CAVALRY MOVEMENTS. 

This was opportunity to renew his own cavalry operations. 
The general movement was suspended and Kilpatrick dis- 
patched for another attempt to break the Macon road near 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 291 

Jonesboro, which it was supposed would force the evacuation 
of the city and possibly the capture of Hood in retreat. To 
make the move a surety, two brigades of Thomas's cavalry 
were to act in support. In the meantime Thomas himself 
was to keep up a persistent demonstration on his whole front. 

On the 1 8th Kilpatrick got off, and was gone four days. 
He had made a complete circuit of Atlanta, destroyed a few 
miles of railroad at Jonesboro, encountered a division of in- 
fantry and brigade of cavalry, and captured a battery of 
three guns, bringing in one, together with three battle flags 
and 70 prisoners, as evidence of his work. The next day, 
however, trains were running into Atlanta as usual. With 
this fresh experience, the General turned to his original 
plan. On his own lines the railroad had been repaired and 
the enemy gone. 

The Twentieth Corps was quietly transferred back to the 
Chattahoochee bridge, in the works Johnston had constructed. 
The main army, provisioned for twenty days, marched around 
Atlanta by the south. The secrecy of these movements was 
astounding, as the enemy seemed to be entirely unaware of 
what was going on until completed. The General greatly 
regretted the loss of the services of General Dodge, who had 
been wounded in the forehead on August 19 and was sent to 
the rear. 

An incident growing out of this misfortune is illustrative of 
Sherman. In one of these sallies General Dodge received 
what the soldiers called "a Confederate leave," which was 
thought to be " unlimited. ' ' In order to await better informa- 
tion, Sherman instructed his operators to send only his own 
dispatches. Inquiries came from family and friends imploring 
news, but his officers were confined to his orders. In the way 
of comment upon what really happened the General said, ' ' I 



292 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

simply wished to send the truth, but I only made trouble, 
which always happened when I tried to be extra cautious; I 
always put my foot in it, some smart Aleck getting ahead of 
me." The General overlooked the fact that everything that 
occurred went over the wires at once. 

The courage and skill of this officer as a leader of troops and 
his masterly ability as an engineer gave him double value in 
the hazardous movement in hand. His divisions, after the cap- 
ture of Atlanta, were distributed between the Fifteenth and 
Seventeenth Corps, and thus took part in what was ahead. 

FALSE HOPES. 

The enemy in the city, finally suspicious of something in the 
wind, began a furious cannonade, but on further investigation the 
next morning found Sherman's camps abandoned. Naturally 
there was great rejoicing over "the departure of the Yanks.''' 
The news spread over the South. A trainload of ladies from 
the neighboring towns as far as Macon came up to join in the 
universal hilarity. 

BATTLE OK JOXESBORO. 
[AUtilST 31-SEPTEMBKH 1. 1864.] 

On the 28th, by a general left wheel, pivoting on Schofield, 
Thomas and Howard reached West Point, from whence they 
destroyed the railroad effectually for miles. Schofield at the 
same time menaced East Point, hoping to draw Hood out of 
his city intrenchment. On the 31st, in the afternoon, a sally 
from Jonesboro against the Fifteenth Corps was easily repulsed. 

On the 1 st day of September the Fourteenth Corps (Jeff C. 
Davis) closed down on the north front to Jonesboro, connect- 
ing on his right with Howard. The left reached the railroad, 
along which Stanley was followed by Schofield. At 4 p. m. 
Davis's divisions swept across the cotton field and over the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 293 

parapets, encouraged by the shouts of their comrades, who had 
full view of the gallant performance, capturing a brigade and 
two field batteries of 10 guns. 

FALL OP ATLANTA. 
[SEPTEMBER 2, 1864.] 

The movements were now directed to cutting off the enemy's 
retreat, which only failed owing to tardiness or conflict of 
orders, General Thomas going himself to urge a lap around 
Jonesboro on the east. Had this part of the programme 
been promptly executed Hardee's corps would have been 
the chief spoil. In order to ascertain the effect of his move- 
ment on Hood in Atlanta the General sent out a recon- 
noissance. Sounds of explosions were now heard in the 
direction of the city, 20 miles north. About 4 a. m. more 
detonations followed. At first the General was in doubt 
whether the reverberations came from within Atlanta or from 
Slocum (Twentieth Corps) engaged, Hood supposing him 
unsupported. 

Although Hardee had slipped out of Jonesboro Sherman 
was so tight on his heels that he was forced to bay just above 
Lovejoys Station, on the much contested railroad. While 
bringing forward his troops and feeling for a new position 
rumors began to come in that Atlanta was evacuated and that 
Slocum had occupied the city. This was followed by written 
Word from Slocum himself, that during the night, having heard 
the explosion, he moved up rapidly from the bridge and at day- 
light entered the city without opposition. Sherman forwarded 
the welcome missive to Thomas's bivouac, which lay near his 
own. Thomas, with more haste than ceremony, joined the 
General, in great excitement exclaiming, "Too good to be 
true ! ' ' 



294 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Then both examined the note again, as neither could believe 
his senses, and neither wished the news to go to the army until 
absolutely verified. Sherman says, "Thomas snapped his 
fingers, whistled, and almost danced." 

The intelligence was not long in spreading among the troops, 
who now might rest upon their hard-earned, well-won laurels. 
Shout upon shout rang through the three armies, from Lovejoy 
(no misnomer then) to Chattahoochee. 

The missives of congratulation and gratitude from the North 
poured in thick and fast. 

President Lincoln wrote from the Executive Mansion: 

The national thanks are tendered * * * for the distinguished 
ability and perserverance * * * which, under Divine favor, has 
resulted in the capture of Atlanta. * * * 

General Grant, from City Point, Va., on the same day said: 

In honor of your great victory I have ordered a salute to be fired with 
shotted guns from every battery bearing on the enemy. The salute will 
be fired within an hour amid great rejoicing. 

OCCUPATION OF ATLANTA — RULER OF A STATE. 
[SEPTEMBER 2->0VEMBEK 15, 1S«4.] 

General Sherman, now supreme master of the situation and 
ruler of a Commonwealth, in fact, master of four — Georgia, 
Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee — determined to give Hood 
a chance to think over his misfortunes. As for himself, for 
the present, to rest satisfied with the occupation of Atlanta; 
meanwhile turning his attention to the redisposition of his 
army and formulation of plans for the next move on the 
theater of war. 

The new formation was ordered on September 5, and three 
days were given for its execution, viz, the Army of the 
Cumberland to take position in and about Atlanta, the Ten- 
nessee at East Point, and Ohio at Decatur. 




S. Doc. 320, 58-2 20 



' Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 295 

Sherman, after visiting Jonesboro on the 6th, rode into 
Atlanta on the 8th. The city was occupied by the Twentieth 
Corps (Slocum) and by himself as headquarters of the Military 
Division of the Mississippi in the field. 

NECESSITIES OF WAR. 

He instantly took up a question which had much occupied 
his thoughts after the capture of the city came within range of 
the inevitable. His first proposition was the removal of the 
entire civil population from within its limits, with orders to go 
north or south, as they should elect. 

The next was the prohibition of all civilians coming within 
his lines, nearer Atlanta than Chattanooga, for purposes of 
trade. Of the army of sutlers and traders, who had been 
smacking their lips impatiently at Nashville and Chattanooga, 
he sifted the entire lot down to three, one to each army. The 
city, which he regarded as the prize of war, was to be purely a 
military garrison, with no civil population to influence military 
measures, as at Memphis, Vicksburg, Nashville, and New 
Orleans, all garrisoned to protect the interests of a hostile 
population. In his own words, "so the people would see in 
these measures he was in earnest," and with grim sarcasm, 
' ' if they were sincere in their common and popular clamor ' to 
die in the last ditch,' the opportunity would soon come." 

It is quite evident that the General now felt himself in a 
position to talk business. 

As early as September 4 he gave notice of his purpose to 

General Halleck, concluding: 

If the people raise a howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will an- 
swer that war is war and not popularity seeking. If they want peace, 
they and their relatives must stop the war. 

During the next three weeks he was much absorbed in cor- 
respondence. 



296 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

GENERAL GRANT'S PLANS AND APPRECIATION. 

General Grant, from City Point (September 12), sent Colo- 
nel Horace Porter, of his staff, to explain the exact condition of 
affairs with him and a letter suggesting certain movements in 
contemplation, as extending his lines to the south of Rich- 
mond, a combined naval and military movement against Wil- 
mington, N. C, by gaining a foothold at Fort Fisher and 
sending a force to Mobile and Savannah to enable him to 
threaten Macon and Augusta. ' ' What you are to do with the 
forces at your command I do not exactly see," adding "My 
object in sending a staff officer to you is not so much to sug- 
gest operations as to get your views, though it may be October 
5 before any of the plans may be executed." Concluding: 

I feel you have accomplished the most gigantic undertaking given to 
any general in this war, and with a skill and ability that will be acknowl- 
edged in history as unsurpassed, if not unequaled. It gives me pleasure 
to record this in your favor, as it would in favor of any living man, my- 
self included. 

MARCH TO THE SEA SUGGESTED. 

To this letter (September 20) the General replied, taking up 

the propositions submitted and arguing them conclusively with 

suggestions as to his ideas of the line of action. He here gives 

his first suggestion of his march to the sea and cooperation 

against Richmond: 

I should keep Hood employed and put my army in fine order for a inarch 
on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston. If you will fix a date to be in 
Savannah I will insure our possession of Macon and a point on the river 
below Augusta. The possession of the Savannah River is more than fatal 
to the possibility of the Southern independence. They may stand the fall 
of Richmond, but not of Georgia. 

This letter ends: 

In the meantime, know that I admire your dogged perseverance and 
pluck more than ever. If you can whip Lee, and I can march to the 
Atlantic, I think Uncle Abe will give us twenty days' leave of absence to 
see our young folks. Yours, as ever. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 297 

General Halleck, chief of staff (September 16), from Wash- 
ington, wrote, extending congratulations — 

on the capture of Atlanta, the objective point of your brilliant cam- 
paign * * * not hesitating to say that it is the most brilliant of the 
war. 

FATE OF ATLANTA. 

To which General Sherman responded (September 20), 
"touching the removal of the inhabitants of Atlanta," and 
inclosing the correspondence between himself, General Hood, 
and the mayor of Atlanta, observing that General Hood having 
questioned his motives, " he could not tamely submit to such 
impertinence." That the removal " has been made with liber- 
ality and fairness attended with no force, and no women or 
children have suffered unless for want of provisions by their 
natural protectors and friends." He then presents his reasons, 

viz: 

All houses of Atlanta are needed for military storage and occupation. 

Wishing to contract the lines of defense so as to diminish the garrison 
and construct the necessary citadels and redoubts, makes it obligatory to 
destroy the houses used by families as residences. 

Atlanta is a fortified town. Was stubbornly defended and fairly cap- 
tured. As captors we have a right to it. 

A poor population would compel us to feed them or see them starve. 

The residence here of the families of our enemies would lead to hurtful 
correspondence, call for provost guards and oblige officers to listen to 
everlasting complaints that are not military. 

These are my reasons, and if satisfactory to the Government of the 
United States it makes no difference to me whether it pleases General 
Hood and his people or not. 

OPPOSING CHIEFS TAKE UP THE PEN. 

In prosecution of his purposes with reference to the city on 
his hands, General Sherman did General Hood (September 7) 
the courtesy of communicating his plans in this respect: 

I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens 
now residing in Atlanta should remove; those who prefer it to go South, 
the rest North. 



298 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

He authorized the mayor to choose two citizens to convey 
this letter to General Hood. The correspondence which fol- 
lowed: Hood to Sherman September 9, Sherman to Hood 
September 10, Hood to Sherman September 12, and Sherman 
to Hood September 14 at all points bristled with sarcasm, indi- 
cating that either was quite as mighty, Sherman particularly, 
with his pen as with his sword. 

The weight of example, , facts, history, and precedent the 

general claimed, were on his side. General Hood was the first 

to surrender, in the following tragic peroration: 

Having answered the points forced upon me, I close this correspondence 
with you; and, notwithstanding your comments upon my appeal to God 
in the cause of humanity, I. again humbly and reverently invoke His 
almighty aid in defense of justice and right. 

To which Sherman unlimbered for a parting shot (Septem- 
ber 14) to the effect, having "carefully perused your last and 
agreeing that such a discussion by two soldiers is out of place, 
I remind you that you began the controversy; and, in reply 
to the only new matter contained in your rejoinder, add, we 
have no 'negro allies;' not a single negro left Chattanooga with 
this army nor is with it now. ' ' 

A municipal demonstration, in the form of a petitionary 
movement by the mayor and two couucilmeu, added spice to the 
boiling cauldron of epistolary wrath. 

The general replied (September 12): 

Yet I shall not revoke my orders, because they were not designed to 
meet the humanities of the case, but to prepare for the future struggles in 
which millions of good people outside of Atlanta have a deep interest. 
We must have peace not only at Atlanta but in all America. 

He then proceeded to state with refreshing naivete how to 

the extent of his ability he proposed to bring it all about, and 

conveyed many incisive points as to the duty of the citizen in 

loyal obligation to the most free and benign Government on the 

face of the earth. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 299 

On the theory of his maxim that "War is hell," Sherman 
evidently opined that the best manifestation of the doctrine was 
to give all persons, civil or military, a hell of a time in condon- 
ing or conducting it. 

RESTING ON ITS LAURELS. 

The entire lines about Atlanta were redisposed on a scale of 
contraction. The front was now advanced 300 miles from Nash- 
ville, the real base. There was no time to waste holding 
Atlanta and fighting to save a railroad. The danger of a 
natural reaction among officers and men after the severe tension 
of the previous four months demanded vigilance and discipline. 
The enemy's cavalry operating in Middle Tennessee was to have 
concert of action by Forrest raiding up from Mississippi, in 
hope of compelling the army to fall back. Ample provisions 
were made to meet these movements, still keeping an eye on 
Hood, who was holding on to his vanished honors at Lovejoy's 
station. As there were no signs of an early movement of the 
adversary, here ends the Atlanta campaign. 

STATISTICS OF THE CAMPAIGN. 

In taking a statistical view of the whole campaign, Sherman 

gives the following figures of the strength of his army each 

month. 

1864. 

May 6 98, 797 

Junei II2 ' 8l 9 

July i Io6 '° 7 ° 

August i 9L 675 

September 1 3i, 758 

The reduction of numbers was not due solely to deaths and 

wounds, but to expiration of service and detachments to points 

in the rear. 



300 Sherman: A Me?norial Sketch. 

His entire loss is stated officially: 

Killed and missing 8, 951 

Wounded 23, 282 

Total 32, 233 

The losses of the enemy: 

Killed 3, 044 

Wounded 18, 952 

Prisoners 12, 983 

Total 34, 979 

NEGOTIATION WHICH CAME TO NAUGHT. 

The appearance at the General's headquarters of a Mr. Hill 
and another citizen in search of the body of a son of the former, 
killed in the retreat from Cassville, opened the opportunity for 
a matter-of-fact conversation upon the military and political 
aspects of the situation as it affected the interests of Georgia. 
Mr. Hill, in approaching the city, had witnessed the scenes of 
destruction caused by the invading army. He therefore knew 
from observation the horrors of war and the madness of its con- 
tinuance. The General consequently hoped that Governor 
Brown (Joseph E. ) would issue a proclamation of withdrawal 
from further rebellion against the authority of the Government 
of the United States and adopt what was then being agitated in 
the South as the policy of " separate State action." The Gen- 
eral proposed that he should see the governor and urge prompt 
action, in default of which he would be impelled to devastate 
the State its whole length and breadth. If the governor would 
issue a proclamation as proposed he would spare it, and in his 
march across it would confine his troops to the main road and 
pay for all corn and food they consumed. He even author- 
ized Mr. Hill to invite the governor to visit him at Atlanta, 
promising a safe guard, and, further, if he wished to make a 
speech he would guarantee him a large and respectful audience. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 301 

The message was delivered. The General sent similar word 
to Judge Wright, at Rome, a former member of Congress, and 
a Mr. King, at Marietta. Governor Brown did go so far as to send 
a letter of notification to General Hood of the withdrawal of the 
State militia from the field, but only " while the enemy is pre- 
paring for the winter operations ' ' and in order ' ' to gather corn 
and sorghum ' ' and ' ' prepare themselves for such service as 
may be required for another campaign." 

President Lincoln, in a dispatch, expressed great interest in 
these efforts, and particularly in the proffered invitation of a 
visit from Georgia's governor. 

In his opinion, Sherman replied, it "was a magnificent 
stroke of policy, if accomplished without surrender of principle 
or foot of ground, in order to arouse the latent v enmity of 
Georgia against Davis." The governor was sufficiently 
impressed to call a special session of the legislature at Milledge- 
ville to consider the situation of affairs. 

On September 20 another letter came from General Grant, 
asking Sherman's "views as to what next." 

These incipient movements in the arena of politics brought 
the authorities at Richmond and Hood's army at Tovejoy up 
standing. Hood's movements, now wild, opened the door to 
central Georgia. His purpose was raiding the single railroad 
upon which the army relied for supplies. About the last week 
in September Forrest captured Athens, Ala. , hy overpowering a 
small garrison. Taking the hint from this, Sherman sent a 
division of the Fourth Corps back to Chattanooga and Corse, 
of the Seventeenth, to Rome. This was the first move which 
later led to sending Thomas to look after affairs at Chatta- 
nooga and Nashville, while the General himself would take 
care of Georgia. 



302 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

A DIVERSION NOT IN THE ARTICLES OF WAR. 

The commotion caused by the capture of Atlanta was so 
intense throughout the Conf ederacy that Jefferson Davis ' ' lit 
out" for Macon town and Hood's army (then at Palmetto Sta- 
tion), on the West Point road, but 22 miles south of Atlanta, 
moved across from Dovejoy. Davis made an harangue to the 
soldiers as he had to the citizens of Columbia, S. C, and 
Macon, Ga. , en route outward bound. Files of local newspapers 
containing these observations were promptly brought in, upon 
which Sherman, by way of comment, afterwards said: 

Davis seemed to be perfectly upset by the fall of Atlanta, and to have 
lost all sense and reason. * * * He denounced General Johnston and 
Governor Brown as traitors and the cause of all the trouble, and prophesied 
that the Yankee army was doomed to a retreat worse than that of Napo- 
leon from Moscow. 

Before the end of September Sherman notified Grant of the 
transfer of the two divisions mentioned, adding "there are men 
enough in the rear to whip Forrest," and, referring to the Brown 
matter, said "the governor was afraid to act unless in concert 
with other governors. ' ' 

In the meantime the exchange of prisoners and the removal 
of the inhabitants of Atlanta were going on actively. The Gen- 
eral also arranged measures for the benefit of the prisoners at 
Andersonville, whose tales of brutality, brought in by escaped 
ones, exceeded belief. At his request Hood consented to relief 
in the nature of supplies from the North. Having telegraphed 
to St. Louis, the sanitary commission shipped the articles 
inventoried, as required, but before they arrived the prison pen 
was removed to Jacksonville, Fla. The goods, however, finally 
reached that destination. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 303 

HOOD OFF FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE WITH THOMAS AFTER 

HIM. 

General Grant sent notification of a desperate attempt to 
"drive the invading army out of Georgia," and that he would 
send all the new troops east and west as reenforcements. Hood, 
in furtherance of his plan of abandonment of regular military 
operations and resort to raiding, began to edge his way toward 
middle Tennessee for the purpose of destroying the railroad in 
the rear 

In view of these desultory movements, upon which he did 
not desire to expend his time when more important strategic 
operations were essential to the closing up of the war, the gen- 
eral decided to send Thomas to Chattanooga with another divi- 
sion (of the Fourteenth Corps) to take special direction of 
affairs in that quarter. That officer left for his post on Septem- 
ber 29 specifically to drive Forrest out of Tennessee, at the same 
time Sherman informed Generals Grant and Halleck: 

I prefer for the future to make the movement on Milledgeville, Millen, 
and Savannah, [adding] Hood has crossed the Chattahoochee below 
Sweetwater. * * * If he tries to get our road I shall attack him, but 
if he goes to the Selma and Talladega road why not leave Tennessee to 
Thomas [and me] to destroy Atlanta and march across Georgia to Savan- 
nah, doing irreparable damage? We can not remain on the defensive. 

PURSUIT OF HOOD. 
[OCTOBKK 3-28, 1864.] 

The indications (October 3) were that Hood proposed to 
strike communications at Kingston or Marietta. Ordering 
Slocum (Twentieth Corps) to hold Atlanta and the bridges of 
the Chattahoochee, Sherman proceeded to look after Hood. 
Owing to detachments and discharges, the five corps were 
reduced to 60,000 men and two small divisions of cavalry. The 



304 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

enemy had 8,000 cavalry (Forrest's) in middle Tennessee and 
Hood 35,000 to 40,000 infantry and artillery in addition to 
Wheeler's cavalry, 3,000, for general operations. On October 
3 and 4 Sherman began his pursuit of Hood. 

On the 4th he signaled from Vinings Station to Kenesaw 
over the enemy and from the latter point to Allatoona to Corse 
to hurry back from Rome to assist Allatoona, where, among 
other stores, were 1,000,000 rations. From Kenesaw Mountain 
on the morning of the following day, off to the southwest, the 
general descried a large force of the enemy, and the railroad 
from Big Shanty to Allatoona, 15 miles, afire. 

Later in the day he received a .signal, " Corse is here, " which 
was a great relief, as it also indicated that valuable officer had 
received his orders and Allatoona was well garrisoned. At 
2 p. m. he knew the relieving column was approaching, and 
by less smoke of battle, which ceased at 4 p. m. , knew also that 
the battle was closed. At that hour he " read " the attack had 
been repulsed. 

On the 6th, at 2 p. m. , came a dispatch from Corse, "I am 
short a cheek bone and ear, but am able to whip all hell yet." 
The enemy left 231 dead, 411 prisoners, 3 regimental colors, 
and 800 muskets on the field and a general officer among the 
prisoners. The aggregate loss was estimated at 2,000. Corse 
suffered 142 killed, 353 wounded, and 212 missing. 

The General made the defense of Allatoona the theme of a 
general order. He reached there himself on the 9th. 

The repair of the road took 6 miles of iron and 35,000 ties, 
and 10,000 men to lay them. The time of doing it seemed to 
mark the operation as an act of magic. A picket of the enemy 
was overheard to say that Wheeler had blown up the tunnel 
near Daltou, and therefore the "Yanks will have to git or 
starve. ' ' 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 305 

"Oh, hell," chimed in another, "old Sherman carries a 
duplicate tunnel along!" 

In commenting upon the skill of his men in railroad repair, 

the General once said: 

I know of no greater feats of war than attended the defense of the rail- 
road from Nashville to Atlanta during the year 1864. 

From Allatoona he informed Thomas: 

I want to destroy all the road below Chattanooga, including Atlanta, and 
to make for the seacoast. 

"I CAN MAKE GEORGIA HOWL." 

The same day he wired General Grant : 

It is not possible to protect the roads now that Hood, Forrest, Wheeler, 
and the whole batch of devils are turned loose without home or habitation. 
[I propose] we break up the road from Chattanooga forward and strike 
out with our wagons to Milledgeville, Millen, and Savannah. I can make 
this march and make Georgia howl. 

From Cartersville, still on the trail, Sherman notified 
Thomas that Hood was bound for Tuscumbia, Ala., asking: 

Can you hold him with your force and expect reenforcements? In that 
event you know what I propose to do. 

The same day he again pressed Grant: 

Had I not better execute the plan of my letter and leave General Thomas 
with troops now in Tennessee to defend that State? Hood can constantly 
break my road. Infinitely preferable to make a wreck of the road and of 
the country from Chattanooga to Atlanta, included, send to the rear all 
my wounded and unserviceable men, and with my effective force move 
through Georgia, smashing things to the sea. I can make Savannah or 
Charleston or the mouth of the Chattahoochee (Apalachicola). 

Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long. 

Receiving no reply, the General rode into Rome. Hood's 
demand for the surrender of Resaca, defended by Col. C. R. 
Weaver, met with the heroic reply: 

In my opinion I can hold this post. If you want it come and take it. 



306 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

After his Allatoona experience Hood did a little skirmishing 
and destroyed the railroad to Tunnel Hill, 20 miles, but made 
no attack. 

WASHINGTON WILLING. 

While at Ships Gap, about the middle of October, the Gen- 
eral was advised of the willingness of the authorities at 
Washington that he should undertake the march across Georgia 
to the sea. 

The next day (October 17) Thomas urged: 

I hope you will adopt Grant's idea of turning Wilson loose rather than 
undertake the plan of the march with the whole force through Georgia to 
the sea, inasmuch as General Grant can not assist you as at first arranged. 

The same day the General informed Schofield: 

I want the road repaired to Atlanta, sick and wounded sent north of the 
Tennessee. I will then make the interior of Georgia feel the weight of 
war. Notify General Thomas of these my views. 

It was now quite evident from the tone of his dispatches that 
the General was fast wearing out of patience with this halting 
policy. The aimless movements of Hood satisfied him that he 
could not catch that wandering warrior, as he termed it, "in a 
stern chase." 

RETALIATORY MEASURES. 

As a retaliation for the attempt to cut off his supplies, Gen- 
eral Slocum, at Atlanta, sent out large trains of wagons to the 
east, gathering up great quantities of bacon and provisions. 
When the railroad was in order he lived off food from the North; 
when not, off the country. As Sherman on one occasion told 
a planter, "We prefer Illinois beef, but Georgia mutton will 
have to answer in certain contingencies. ' ' 

On October 17 intelligence reached headquarters that Hood 
was out of confidence and Beauregard had practically super- 
seded him near Gadsden. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 307 

FIGHTING BATTLES BY PROCLAMATION. 

The new commander opened his campaign in a proclamatory 
denunciation of everything in sight, sparing no terms in chas- 
tisement of the invaders and spending the balance of his effort 
in an appeal to honor stimulated by horrors of all kinds, includ- 
ing rape, arson, and other sorts in stock to reignite the slum- 
bering enthusiasm of the southern people. 

The temperature of the response does not appear to have been 
in due proportion to the heat of the invocation. Thomas kept 
things moving in his jurisdiction, and Sherman was gayly pre- 
paring for his promenade to tide water. 

On October 21-28, while bivouacked in a field back of Gayles- 
ville, the General began his dispositions for the great march. 
Beauregard and Hood were still sending out defiant proclama- 
tions and appeals in the customary frantic vocabulary of that 
modus of stirring up things. 

At this point ceased the pursuit of the Beauregard-Hood 
combine by the army under General Sherman's immediate 
command. 

CONCENTRATING FOR THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 

In the latter part of October the General squarely informed 

General Halleck of his intention to strengthen Thomas and then 

leave him to defend the line of the Tennessee River. 

With the rest, I will push into the heart of Georgia and come out at 
vSavannah, destroying all the railroads in the State. 

He then settled down to his pet project in earnest, giving the 

necessary orders (November 1) to his chief quartermaster to 

" ship everything not needed to Chattanooga," and to his chief 

commissary: " I want nothing in Atlanta but what is necessary 

for war." The same day General Grant wired: 

If you can see a chance to destro}' Hood's army, attend to that first, and 
make your other movement secondary. 



308 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

It is apparent that General Grant feared a let up of the 

energetic methods of his great lieutenant; to which Sherman 

replied from Rome on the 2d: 

No single army can catch Hood. I am convinced the best results will 
follow from our defeating Jeff Davis's cherished plan of making me leave 
Georgia. If I turn back the whole effect of the campaign will be lost. 

"GO ON AS YOU PROPOSE." 

To this dispatch Grant replied same day: 

Hood's army is so out of the way it should be looked upon as the 
objective. With the force you have left with Thomas he must be able to 
destroy him. 

I say, then, go on as you propose. 

This was the first direct order from General Grant ' ' to march 
to the sea, ' ' and Sherman was not slow in obeying. 

The same day the General rode into Kingston. He now had four 
corps — Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twentieth — 
and a division of cavalry strung along the railroad to Atlanta. 
The road and telegraph were in order. He was ready to begin 
his great strategic move of over 300 miles from Atlanta to 
Savannah. The sick and wounded were sent North and the 
wagon trains loaded. 

On November 7 Grant wired: "Great good fortune attend 
you. I believe you will be eminently successful." All gar- 
risons below Chattanooga were to be evacuated. The 10th day 
of November (as soon as the Presidential election was over) 
was the day fixed for the head of the column to pull out. 

All the troops designed for the campaign received orders tc 
concentrate at Atlanta, with further orders to burn all mills and 
factories useful to an enemy, should one undertake to pursue. 

"ale right." 

The next day, while the troops were gathering on their 
different lines, Sherman and Thomas exchanged final dis- 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 309 

patches. The latter sent his last dispatch from Nashville, 
Term., on November 12, at 8.30 a. m., saying, " Have no fears 
of Beauregard. If he follows you, I will follow him as far as 
possible. ' ' 

Sherman immediately replied from Cartersville, "Dispatch 
received. All right." At the next moment, by his order, the 
bridge was burned and electric wires severed. 

The army was now over 200 miles in the heart of the 
enemy's country without a base, cut off from all succor, 
should it be needed, and nothing to depend upon but the 
genius of its commander and the valor of 50,000 veterans. 

The same night the General started for Atlanta. 

In his nonsentimental, warrior-like w r ay, in moments of re- 
flection later he said he felt he was about to begin a direct 
attack on Lee's army and Richmond, though 1,000 miles of 
hostile country intervened. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY. 

On November 14 all the corps which were to fill so large a 
space in the military movements of the American civil war were 
congregated at or near Atlanta. As a whole, the army was 
formed in two wings, the right, Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, and 
left, H. W. Slocum, commanding. 

Right wing — Fifteenth Corps, Maj. Gen. P. J. Osterhaus; 
divisions, Brig. Gens. Charles R. Wood, W. B. Hazeu, John 
E. Smith, John M. Corse, commanding. Seventeenth Corps, 
Maj. Gen. Frank P. Blair; divisions, Maj. Gen. John A. 
Mower, Brig. Gens. M. D. Leggett and Giles A. Smith, 
commanding. 

Left wing — Fourteenth Corps, Maj. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis; 
divisions, Brig. Gens. W. P. Carlin, James D. Morgan, and 
A. Baird, commanding. Twentieth Corps, Brig. Gen. A. S. 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 21 



310 Sherman: A Memorial SketcJi. 

Williams; divisions, Brig. Gens. N. J. Jackson, John W. 
Geary, and W. T. Ward, commanding. 

Cavalry — Division, Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick; brigades, 
Cols. Eli H. Murray and Smith D. Atkins, commanding. 

The strength of this force at the opening of the campaign 
(November 10) was 59,545 of all arms. Its maximum ( Decem- 
ber 1) 62,204 (infantry, 55,329; cavalry, 5,063; artillery, 1^812). 

FIELD ORDERS. 

Before leaving Kingston (November 8) the General issued 
an address to his army, concluding with the simple words, " He 
hopes to lead you to achievements equal in importance to those 
of the past." 

From the same point the following day, in special field orders, 
the march, whereever practicable, was to be by four roads as 
nearly parallel as possible, converging at points to be indicated 
in orders. 

There was to be no general train of supplies, each corps to 
have its ammunition and provision trains distributed as pre- 
scribed. In case of danger, this order of march was to be 
changed by each corps commander so as to have his advance 
and rear brigades unencumbered by wheels. 

The separate columns were to start habitually at 7 a. m. and 
make 15 miles a day, unless otherwise ordered. 

The army was to forage liberally on the country by means of 
a party to each brigade, which was to gather near the route 
traveled corn or forage of any kind, meat of any kind, vege- 
tables, corn meal, or whatever needed, aiming to keep in the 
wagons at all times at least ten days' provisions for the com- 
mand and three days' forage for the stock. Soldiers were 
prohibited to enter the dwellings of the inhabitants or com- 
mit trespass. During a halt or camp they might gather 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 311 

turnips, potatoes, or other vegetables, or drive in stock in sight 
of camp. Only to corps commanders was intrusted the power 
to destroy mills, houses, cotton gins, etc. As a principle, where 
the army was unmolested there was to be no destruction, but 
in case of molestation by guerrillas or bushwhackers, devasta- 
tion more or less relentless according to the measure of such 
hostility was to be enforced. As for horses, mules, wagons, 
etc., the cavalry and artillery were authorized to appropriate 
freely and without limit, discrimination, however, to be made 
between the rich, usually hostile, and the poor and industrious, 
usually neutral or friendly. No abusive or threatening language 
was allowed. Certificates of facts might be given, but no 
receipts. With each family a reasonable portion for mainte- 
nance was to be left. 

Able-bodied negroes of service might be permitted to accom- 
pany the columns. The organization at once of a pioneer bat- 
talion, one to each army, composed of negroes, if possible, was 
authorized. Each wing was to be supplied with a pontoon 
train. 

Each gun, caisson, and forge was to be drawn by four teams 
of horses. There were allowed 2,500 wagons, each drawn by 
6 mules, loads 2,500 pounds net, and 600 ambulances, by 
2 horses each. Each soldier was to carry 40 rounds of ammu- 
nition on his person, and in wagons enough to make up 200 
rounds per man. The same with respect to assorted ammuni- 
tion for each gun. 

Each corps had about 800 wagons, which on the march occu- 
pied about 5 miles of road. The artillery and wagons were to 
have the road, while the troops, with the exception of the 
advance and rear guards, were to follow improvised paths on 
either side of the wagons. The men were also instructed to 
assist the artillery or wagons up hills of heavy grade. 



312 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The chief commissary on the 14th reported 1,200,000 rations 
in hand for about twenty days. Also a good supply of beef 
cattle to be driven on foot. Forage of oats and corn was 
limited to five days, by which time the army was expected to be 
in touch with the corn and other crops raised and stored ' ' for 
the next campaign" by Governor Brown's "withdrawn" 
Georgia State Militia. 

DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTA. 
[NOVEMBER 16-DECEMBEK 18, 1S64.] 

The destruction of Atlanta was complete as to factories, 
shops, railroad buildings, etc. The city was in flames for the 
better part of a day and a night. No special effort was made to 
feed the conflagration into the distinctively residential quarters. 

The inarch began at 7 a. m. , November 15, the right wing 
moving toward Jonesboro and the left toward Madison, being 
divergent lines intended to threaten Macon and Augusta at the 
same time, but not to effect a concentration at Milledgeville, the 
capital of Georgia, the objective about 100 miles southeast; 
time, seven days. 

To these scenes of war-like departure General Sherman gave 
his personal supervision. The Fourteenth Corps remained 
with him to complete the sad fate of Atlanta. At 7 a. m. on 
the morning of the 16th, with his personal staff, an escort of 
Alabama cavalry and an infantry guard for his small head- 
quarters train, the General turned his back upon Atlanta, 
leaving by the Decatur road. 

MARCH TO THE SEA. 

Upon the crest of an eminence he turned to rest his vision 
upon the scene of so many desperate battles. The day \va> 
extremely clear and bright. The city was a smouldering ruin. 



S. I 320—58-2. 




MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, UNITED STATES ARMY. ON THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 313 

The smoke seemed to overhang it like a pall. The wood yonder 
marked the spot where MePherson fell. In the opposite direc- 
tion might be seen the sheen of bayonets and white canvas of 
the wagons of Howard's column moving to the south, while 
the glistening muskets of Slocum's wing directly in front were 
winding away at a swinging pace, thinking nothing of the 
thousand-mile tramp ahead. 
In the words of Sherman: 

Some band by accident struck up the anthem "John Brown's soul goes 
marching on;" the men caught up the strain and never before or since 
have I heard the chorus of " Glory, glory halleluiah!" done with more 
spirit, or in better harmony of time and place. As the curtain fell upon 
this scene of the drama we turned our horses' heads to the east; Atlanta 
was soon lost behind a screen of trees and became a thing of the past. 

As the long columns of men in heavy marching accoutrement 
swung by, seeing their General in their midst, up went a shout 
which rang from Atlanta to the sea, often adding, "Uncle 
Billy, I guess Grant is waiting for us at Richmond." 

Says Sherman: 

There was a devil-may-care feeling pervading the officers and men that 
made one feel the full load of responsibility for success would be accepted 
as a matter of course, whereas should we fail this "march" would be 
adjudged the wild adventure of a crazy fool. 

TO MIIXEDGEVILLE. 
[NOVEMBER 16-23, 1S64.] 

The first camp, near L,ithonia, was ablaze with burning ties 
and explosions to complete the utter wreck of the railroad, 
which had caused so much effort during the siege. The next 
day, while passing through Covington, the troops having 
dressed their ranks, with colors flying and bands playing 
patriotic airs, the white inhabitants came front to witness 
the scene despite their intense feelings of hate. The negroes, 



314 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

thinking the millennium had come for a fact, hailed the occa- 
sion with plantation jubilees. 

The same night the General sat long on his horse by the 
pontoons of Ulcofauhatchee, 4 miles east of the town, watching 
in thoughtful pride the crossing of his veterans. 

The negroes began to flock in, greatly to the embarrassment 
of the movement of his columns. The General gave his per- 
sonal attention to this embarrassment by informing these 
ignorant people of the necessity, for their own good, of remain- 
ing where the}' were. 

The food and foraging parties were by this time in working 
order. The details were usually 50 men with one or two dis- 
creet officers, who started before daylight, extending their 
expeditions to a distance of 5 or 6 miles on the flanks. The 
articles taken were brought in by every conceivable means 
of transportation, wheeled vehicles of every character, from a 
family coach to a wheelbarrow, and from a blooded racer to a 
lame bullock. In the General's words: 

No doubt there were acts of pillage and violence, but in every instance 
traced to parties of foragers who dubbed themselves "bummers," but 
such acts were exceptional and unauthorized. I never heard of murder 
or violence toward women. * * * As no army could carry food and 
forage for a march of 300 miles, and there being no magistrates or civil 
authorities to respond to requisitions, as in the wars of Europe, this source 
of supply was indispensable to success. 

In the course of the march great skill was acquired by the 
quartermasters and men in loading their wagons from the means 
of conveyance by which the supplies were brought in without 
loosing their places in column. 

THOSE SADDLE BAGS. 

As for the General's individual outfit, his orderly carried in 
those famous saddlebags a change of underclothing, a roll of 
field maps, a flask of whisky, and bunch of cigars. For the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 315 

comfort and sustenance of the inner man, under his orders to 
his troops, he "foraged liberally on the country." 

On the 21st, while dissuading the negroes from following his 
army, he accidently discovered his bivouac was on the planta- 
tion of Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet 
of President Buchanan. In this instance his direct command 
was to ' ' spare nothing. ' ' The execution of his order fell upon 
Jefferson C. Davis, one of the finest of his own general officers. 

On the 23d the General entered Milledgeville, then the capi- 
tal of Georgia, which was occupied by the left wing, while the 
right la> T in camp at Gordon, 12 miles distant. 

This completed the first stage of his " march." Slight oppo- 
sition had been encountered from the enemy's cavalry 4 miles 
from Macon, which was disposed of by Kilpatrick, and also from 
a division of infantry as he approached Milledgeville, which was 
also summarily handled. 

A LEGISLATURE ON THE WING. 

The people generally remained at home, but Governor Brown, 
unwilling to await the convenience of that invitation to a visit, 
departed with the legislature, nor did the fathers even do 
the courtesy of tendering the keys of the city. A party of offi- 
cers, in order to lift the interregnum, convened a legislature 
of their own, elected a speaker, and introduced, debated, and 
adopted a resolution rescinding the ordinance of secession of the 
State of Georgia from the Union. 

FRANTIC APPEALS. 

The governor and legislature at a distance indulged in frantic 
appeals to the people, failing, however, to set the example "to 
turn out en masse to destroy the invaders." Prisoners and 
convicts were released upon promise of filling up the ranks and 



316 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

fighting "the dastard foe." The newspapers were divided 
between consternation at the temerity of the movement, and 
fooling the people into the belief that ' ' the invaders were run- 
ning for their lives to get under cover of their fleet off the 
coast." Beauregard, at Corinth, several hundred miles away, 
instituted a new war of shouting on stationer}', exclaiming 
"People of Georgia, arise!" etc. Former United States 
Senator Ben Hill from Richmond sent out a pronunciamento, 
"Georgians, be firm! Act promptly, and fear not!" etc. 
Seddon, Secretary of War, given to the politician habit, indorsed 
" I most cordially approve of the above." The " Georgia dele- 
gation in Congress'' (Confederate) added a chorus, "Assail the 
invader in front, flank, and rear by night and day! Let him 
have no rest ! ' ' 

No one " arised," no one " acted promptly nor feared not," 
nor did anyone materialize to " assail the invader." So, all in 
all, no one was hurt, and Sherman went gaily on about his 
business. 

NEXT STOP WILL BE MILLEN. 
[NOVEMBER -.'S-DEl EMBEK :J. 1S04.] 

The general orders of the 23d fixed Millen as the end of the 
next stage. Efforts were made to interpose a force against 
further progress. Hardee, under orders of Beauregard, 
appeared in front, with an army on paper, between Milledge- 
ville and Augusta, having worked himself into the belief that 
he had come to " annihilate Sherman." 

On the 26th, at Sanderville, a detachment of the enemy's cav- 
alry jumped the flankers with which Sherman was present in 
person. The latter so quickly jumped the jumpers that most 
of them, even to horses, got ahead of their saddles in their haste 
to get out of reach. This party having commenced to execute 
the earlier threat to destroy all corn and fodder in advance of 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 317 

the columns, word was sent that any more of that business and 
the devastation would be made complete. No more trouble of 
this kind beset the march. 

At this point an aged negro who had ' ' specially honored ' ' 
the occasion by a call to see " Massa Sherman," who had 
been explained as equipped with a pair of horns, after manifest- 
ing some surprise in reply to an inquiry, thus described the 
march of the other column: 

" Fust they conies some cavalry mans; they burn the depot. 
Then they comes some infantery mans; they burn the track. 
Then they comes de last; they bone de well." 

The General laughed heartily at the graphic picture of the 
simple negro's idea of war. The next day he rode over to 
inspect Corse's work and assure himself of the "boned" well. 
He found it as described, the windlass and bucket gone and the 
vacant hoops a memory of what had been. 

The persistency of the cavalry attacks on the flanks becom- 
ing somewhat annoying, General Slocum was ordered "to give 
Wheeler all the fighting he wanted. ' ' 

On December 3 the army entered Millen with the Seven- 
teenth Corps. Here the General communicated with all parts 
of his command, finding each corps in good position, the organi- 
zations and men in excellent condition, and the wagons full. 

As the army now began to approach the coast, the country 
became barren and food scarce. It had traversed about two- 
thirds the distance without loss. The General now determined 
to push for Savannah as rapidly as possible. 

ON THE ROAD TO SAVANNAH. 

General Bragg was in Augusta trying to whoop up a force. 
Gen. Wade Hampton had been ordered from Richmond to 
organize a detachment of cavalry for service in the field. 



318 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

Hardee was ahead, between Sherman and Savannah, with a 
division and a number of irregular troops, in all, 10,000 men. 
Millen was destroyed and Sherman went marching on, closing 
in upon Savannah by the four main roads. 

On December 5 he made his bivouac on the Ogeechee River, 
50 miles from the terminal of his march. Here he found for- 
tifications, but no force. He had entered the rice belt. The 
country furnished little or nothing except rice, which, however, 
was excellent for food and forage. 

The weather was delightful, the roads fine, and trains in 
first-class order. The daily stint of 15 miles marching was 
accomplished with ease. There had been brushes with cavalry, 
but nothing serious, while the infantry experienced no opposi- 
tion whatever. 

On the 8th the explosion of an 8-inch shell in the road, causing 
the loss of a foot by one of his best young officers, the column 
being obliged to make a detour across the fields, aroused the 
anger of the General to the highest pitch. "This is not war," 
he exclaimed, "this is murder. " Accordingly prisoners were 
taken from the provost guards and put in advance to clear the 
way. No amount of begging off would suffice. They were 
their own torpedoes and they would remove them, which they 
did in the most gingerly fashion, but no other crop of that 
character was found on the road to Fort McAllister. 

the sea! the sea!! 

That night the General spread his tent fly at Pooler Station, 
8 miles from Savannah. During the next two days (9th and 
10th ) the different corps camped before the defenses — the Four- 
teenth on the left, touching the river, the Twentieth on the 
right, the Seventeenth on its right, and the Fifteenth on the 
extreme right — completely investing the doomed city. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 319 

The General, coming forward, made a reeonnoissance within 
800 yards, where he could see the enemy making preparations 
to fire. He was again front to front with the familiar parapets, 
with ditches, channels, and bayous almost similar to those over 
which he had fought in Vicksburg days. Having shifted his 
personal camp near Louisville, about 5 miles from Savannah, 
he made his formations for a regular investment. He also 
opened communication with the fleet, supposed to be rendez- 
voused at Ossabaw Sound, by means of a scout and two men, 
who drifted by tha fort by night in a canoe. 

On the 1 2th Hazen was ordered to march down the Ogeechee 
' ' and without hesitation assault and take Fort McAlister by 
storm." It is interesting to say the division (Second of the 
Fifteenth Corps) to perform this desperate duty was the one 
which Sherman fought at Shiloh and Vicksburg, therefore in 
which he took great pride. 

TAKING OF FORT MALTSTER. 
[DECEMBER, 1864.] 

From his signal station on the left bank of the Ogeechee 
the fort could be seen 3 miles away over the salt marshes. It 
also commanded a view seaward toward Ossabaw Sound. 

At 4 p. m., observing a great stir within the fort, he detected 
also Hazen 's signal which flagged across the intervening 
marshes: 

" Is Sherman there?" 

"Yes; and expects the fort to be carried by night," went 
back from Sherman himself. 

It was within an hour of sundown, when a faint streak of 
smoke rose on the horizon beyond the intervening sedge. 

A steamer waving the United States flag at the fore hove 
cautiously in sight. 



320 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

" All ready," signaled Hazen. 

"Go ahead," answered Sherman. 

While Hazen was attending to the fort the steamer broke 
away her signals. • • 

" Who are you?" 

' ' General Sherman. ' ' 

"Is Fort McAlister taken?" 

" Not yet, but will be in a minute. ' 

The same instant Hazen' s men appeared on the fringe of 
wood. His lines were dressed and colors flying. Away they 
went up the glacis. The fort's great guns belched their death- 
dealing breath of smoke and iron. Down goes the starry 
colors; up again and onward. The density of smoke envelop- 
ing the fort and men heightened the tension of anxiety and 
hope. A sudden pause and the sulphurous veil lifted. Upon 
the ramparts stood the blue instead of the gray. The fort 
was won. 

The complete success of the assault having been signaled to 
the General, the glorious words were carried to the waiting 
craft : 

' ' Yes; the fort is taken. ' ' 

In an oyster skiff, manned by a volunteer crew, the con- 
queror of Georgia, accompanied by General Howard, the 
commander of his right wing, pulled down the river to Fort 
McAllister, 6 miles, although in a direct line the distance was 
but 3. Upon landing, guided by a sentry, he took General 
Hazen quite by surprise. To the attacking party the loss was 
92. Of the garrison of 250 men 50 were killed and wounded. 
At supper the commander of the fort, a prisoner, was an invited 
guest — a curious anomaly of war; a few minutes before 
meting out death in sheets of flame, now breaking bread over 
the cloth. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 321 

VISITS THE SCOUT BOAT. 

Having posted himself as to the situation at the fort, the 
General continued his nocturnal round. It required a tramp of 
a mile to a landing, where he found a yawl, in which himself 
and Howard embarked, taking their own stunt in a pull of 6 
miles to the gunboat, which they found to be the Dandelion. 

Here it was learned Admiral Dahlgren was in command of 
the squadron (South Atlantic) anchored at Wassaw Sound. 
Gen. J. G. Foster, of the Department of the South, had head- 
quarters at Hilton Head. A fleet of ships with abundant stores 
was in Tybee Roads and Port Royal Harbor. He also heard 
the first news of the outside world since his hermit march. 
General Grant still held Richmond in a vise, and Thomas, at 
the other end of his own military division, had not yet carried 
out the programme expected. As a diversion he enjoyed a file 
of newspapers from rebeldom retailing frightful tales of 
"defeat," "rout," "race for the coast," " sanguinary slaugh- 
ter, ' ' and other blood-curdling experiences. 

A scintilla of truth would have found the bleached bones of 
his army strewn over the plains of Georgia, instead of resting on 
the Dandelion s decks and Savannah meads. Availing himself 
of the conveniences at hand the General ran off, with whirlwind 
speed, letters to General Grant, Secretary Stanton, Admiral 
Dahlgren, and General Foster, adding to the latter directions 
for the establishment of a line of supplies by vessels in port to 
his army up the Ogeechee. 

To the Secretary of War (December 13) he wrote: 

I regard Savannah as already gained, although garrisoned by 15,000 
troops. I have destroyed 200 miles of railroad, and otherwise rendered 
Georgia useless for hostile ends. 

He was towed back in his ' ' conqueror's yawl ' ' as near the 

fort as darkness and hidden torpedoes would admit, whence he 



322 Slier man: A Memorial Sketch. 

stroked his way ashore, guided by flickering camp fires. Gen- 
eral Foster had come down from Port Royal, having failed to 
effect a lodgment on the railroad between Savannah and 
Charleston, near Pocotaligo. Indeed, everything had failed, 
except Sherman himself. 

The General, while visiting Admiral Dahlgren at Wassaw 
Sound, made his own arrangements for supplies and siege guns 
for service against Savannah. The Admiral conveyed the Gen- 
eral back to Fort McAllister, meanwhile reaching a complete 
understanding. Thus went by the next day. 

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. 
[DECEMBER 15-21, 1S64.] 

On the 15th the General, at the headquarters of Howard, 8 
miles inland from Savannah, ordered his own moved near the 
same point. Here he began the siege. His anxiety was to 
break the enemy's lines before reenforcements from Virginia or 
Augusta could arrive. 

A letter from General Grant (December 6) suggested the 
' ' most important operation now to end the rebellion was to 
close out L,ee and his army, as it would take three months to 
repair damages, by which time he expected to finish up Rich- 
mond." His idea was for Sherman "to establish a base on 
the coast, and with the rest of his force come to City Point with 
all dispatch," adding, " Select the officer to command, but you 
I want in person." 

General Sherman had set his mind on the capture of Savan- 
nah, and after plans of his own. Therefore to embark for Vir- 
ginia was directly antagonistic to his well-digested purpose. 

On December 16, therefore, he wrote to his chief, giving an 
account of his movements; that he was instituting measures to 
come to him with 50,000 or 60,000 men, intending to capture 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 323 

Savannah, if he had time; he had expected, however, with his 
present command, after reducing Savannah, to march on 
Columbia, S. C, then to Raleigh, then to report to him, requir- 
ing for the transit six weeks after taking Savannah, probably 
by the middle of January. 

ENEMY ABANDONS SAVANNAH. 
[DECEMBER 21, 1864.] 

On December 17 the General sent a flag into the city, de- 
manding its surrender. Being refused, he determined to en- 
force it. He had promised liberal terms to the inhabitants 
and garrison, but if compelled to assault or to starve them 
out he would resort to the harshest measures, not even restrain- 
ing his army, to avenge the national wrong attached to Savan- 
nah and other cities responsible for dragging the country into 

civil war. 

To General Grant he again wrote (December 18) inclosing 
the summons to surrender and refusal, concluding: 

I have a faint belief you will delay operations long enough to enable me 
to succeed here. With Savannah in possession I can punish South Caro- 
lina as she deserves and as thousands of people of Georgia hoped I 
would do. The whole United States would rejoice to have this army 
turned loose on South Carolina to devastate that State as I have done 
Georgia, and will have a direct bearing on your camp in Virginia. 

Sherman, two days previously (18th), received a letter 
from Halleck, mentioning General Grant as having informed 
him — 

of the suggested transfer of his infantry to Richmond, but now wishes him 
to say that you will retain your entire force and operate from such a base 
as you may establish on the coast. General Foster will obey your instruc- 
tions and Admiral Dahlgren assist. General Grant wishes that this whole 
matter of your future action shall be left entirely to your discretion. He 
will send you everything required. 

Upon Hardee's refusal to surrender, Sherman tightened his 
lines, and determined to capture the entire garrison. Having 



324 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

given his orders he allowed three days for preparations, dur- 
ing that interim proposing to visit Admiral Dahlgren. 

While on his return ( December 2 1 ) a letter announced the 
evacuation of Savannah on that morning. The General was 
sorely disappointed, especially as his first move on his return 
was to bottle tip Hardee and force a fight or a famine. 

A MERRY CHRISTMAS. 

As a happy and timely thought the General (December 22) 
penned a dispatch tendering to President Lincoln as a Christ- 
mas gift the city of Savannah, with 150 guns, plenty of 
ammunition, and 25,000 bales of cotton. 

The dispatch reached the President on Christmas eve, and 
was at once spread with electric flash over the entire North. 

Three days after Christmas the President sent to his tri- 
umphant general his celebrated "Man)*, many thanks" dis- 
patch by the hands of Maj. Gen. John A. Logan. 

On December 24 Sherman thanked Grant for the commen- 
dation of his army, and expressed his pleasure at the modifica- 
tion of his former order, ' ' as he feared the transportation of 
his army by sea would very much disturb its unity and morale, 
now so perfect." 

AGAIN ON THE MOVE. 
[DECEMBEB 21, 1864-JANl AKY 19, 1865.] 

After dismantling the Savannah forts bearing on the sea 

approach and modifying the defenses for a smaller garrison, 

the plans were perfected for the movement northward. In 

his last letter Sherman, after many details of his proposed 

operations, concluded: 

The game is then up with Lee, unless he comes out of Richmond, 
avoids you, and fights me. In which case I should reckon you on his 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch . 325 

heels. Now that Hood is used up I feel disposed to bring the matter to 
an issue as quickly as possible. 

If you feel confident you can whip Lee outside his intrenchments, I feel 
equally confident I can handle him in the open country. 

The interval between the 23d and 26th of December was de- 
voted to orders respecting a safe disposition of the military and 
civil administration of Savannah. In reference to the ' ' hostility 
of its inhabitants," as the war was near its close, the General 
decided, unlike Atlanta, to give them the option of remaining 
or departing to Charleston or Augusta. The mass preferred 
to remain. The mayor of the city was so thoroughly ' ' sub- 
jugated" that, taking advantage of his complete docility, the 
General authorized him to revive the municipal government. 
Maj. Gen. John W. Geary, having been the first to enter the 
city, was appointed to command as military governor. 

In a letter of December 27, received on January 2, 1865, 

General Grant, in reply to Sherman's plan of land operations 

northward, suggested a base at Pocotaligo or Coosa wahatchee, 

while he strengthened himself at Richmond, and concluded — 

without waiting further directions, then, you may make your preparations 
to start on your northern expedition without delay. 

In reply, on the same day, Sherman transmitted what he 
capped " Pro jet for January," which covered the programme 
as carried out. The right wing was to be moved on transports 
to the head of .Broad River, on the South Carolina side, and 
massed near Pocotaligo, 25 miles inland. 

The left and cavalry were to go by road to Hardeeville, in the 
vicinity of the same point, the transfer of post to be accomplished 
by January 15. Howard, with the right, arrived at his rendez- 
vous January 10. Slocum, with the left, was also on time. A 
lodgment was now secured and the army ready to move off 
on what is known in history as "Sherman's Campaign in 
the Carolinas." This was an ante-climax to his wonderful 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 22 



326 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

dispositions. Hood routed at Nashville and Hardee run out of 
Savannah about the same time, the former being the comple- 
ment of the latter, and Richmond by the rear now the objective. 

VINALE OF THE "MARCH TO THE SEA." 
[JANUARY 8, I860.] 

On January 8 the General announced in general field orders 
the congratulating letters of President Lincoln and Lieutenant- 
General Grant upon the campaign to the sea and defeat of Hood 
in Tennessee. He authorized each regiment to inscribe on its 
banner the word "Savannah" or "Nashville." With this 
laudatory pronouncement terminated the ' ' March to the sea. ' ' 
The General himself regarded this movement "as a shift of 
base from a city of no value to Savannah a step in the direc- 
tion of Richmond." 

The total losses during the March were, killed and wounded, 
1,338. The gains, the military vantage already mentioned, 
65,000 men fed and 32,000 horses and mules foraged for forty 
days. 

AGAIN TENDERED THE THANKS OF CONGRESS. 

Congress again (January 10, 1865) came forward with a 
tender of thanks ' ' to Sherman and his army for their trium- 
phant march from Chattanooga to Atlanta and through Georgia 
to Savannah. ' ' 

THE COTTON AND NEGRO QUESTION ONCE MORE. 

At this untimely moment ( January 11), at the very inception 
of a movement which was to deliver a brain clout to the hydra- 
headed army of the rebellion, Secretary Stanton, accompanied 
by Quartermaster-General Meigs, Adjutant-General Townsend, 
and an agent of the Treasury Department, arrived, as it was 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 327 

called, to "regulate civil affairs," but really to talk "negro and 
cotton." The next day, accordingly, General Sherman turned 
the custom-house over to the agent of the United States Treas- 
ury and gave ear to the Secretary's negro proposals. 

There was one marked characteristic of Sherman. Although 
of a restive spirit, prompt to act, and righteously exacting in 
his convictions of duty, right, and justice, he possessed a mar- 
velous degree of equanimity and forbearance. He had been 
tried in the crucible of experience and had ever stood the test. 

During the Secretary's sojourn the General ciceroned him 
about the city, put him in touch with negroes by the wholesale, 
and arranged at his own headquarters a convocation of 20 negro 
Baptist and Methodist preachers, where the Secretary put them 
on the stand, Adjutant-General Thomas (Lorenzo) taking pro- 
lix notes. 

Upon reaching the "twelfth" interrogatory in the series, 
General Sherman, much to his surprise and strain of the char- 
acteristic previously alluded to, was requested to leave the 
room. 

The preachers, however, stood up nobly in his behalf. They 
united in one voice, 20 of them present, in declaring — 

we looked upon General Sherman prior to his arrival as a man in the 
providence of God set apart to accomplish his work. * * * His con- 
duct toward us has characterized him as a friend and gentleman * * * ; 
what concerns us could not be in better hands. 

As set forth in his " Memoirs," the General did not take very 
kindly to this summary procedure toward the commander of an 
army of 100,000 men, who had marched some 600 miles through 
the heart of the enemy's country and had given the deathblow 
to rebellion. He said nothing, however, and went on with his 
glorious work. 

All this on account of an element in the rear which, ex parte, 



328 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

put him down as hostile to the negro, simply because he would 
not load himself clown with tens of thousands of these helpless 
and dependent people under the circumstances, with ruination 
for his army and damnation for the Union. 

His true friendship was shown repeatedly on his march in the 
cabins and gatherings of the former black slaves; taking them 
into his confidence; telling them how he wished to beat and 
ruin their taskmasters into submission; then would come their 
day of deliverance; urged them to stay where they were for 
the present, where they could raise corn and bacon for food and 
have shelter for themselves, their old and sick people, women 
and children. He showed them that was the best for him and 
the brave men they saw around and for themselves. The grati- 
tude of these simple people of the plantation cabins was mani- 
fested in many ways, often pathetic. They obeyed his wish and 
his army continued to victory. 

A TRIUMPH OF ANOTHER KIND. 

General Halleck had prepared Sherman beforehand in a 
letter "about people about the President torturing him with 
suspicions of his fidelity to him and his negro policy." 

The President, in the soundness of his judgment, knew 
better and appreciated his services and his methods. 

The General, concluding a letter on the subject, said: "My 
aim is to whip the rebels and humble their pride, to follow 
them to their inmost recesses and make them fear and dread 
us," adding, contemplatively, "The fear of the Lord is the 
beginning of wisdom." 

Besides, as he added — 

I did not propose to have it cast up to me, as Hood had done at 
Atlanta, that we had to call on their .slaves to help to subdue them. 

The Secretary of War was complete^ converted, if he had 
any other motive than inquiry, for he was so taken by the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 329 

superior wisdom of Sherman that he requested him to draft 
an order on the subject in accordance with his own views. 
This he did on January 16, which was approved in its entirety 
by the Secretary. The plan was the setting apart of certain 
islands and abandoned rice plantations ' ' for the use of negroes 
made free by acts of war and the proclamation of the 
President." 

FROM POLITICS AGAIN TO WAR. 

General Slocum, on January iS, turned Savannah over to 
General Foster, commanding the Department of the South. 
It was not until the next day, owing to the interposition of the 
noumilitary problem mentioned, the General issued his first 
general order for the movement. In the meantime his corps 
was in motion toward the proposed rendezvous. As a ruse, 
he spread the report that he would touch at Charleston or 
Augusta, neither of which points, however, had any bearing 
whatever upon what he planned to accomplish. 

CAMPAIGN IN THE CAROLINAS. 
[JANUARY 21-APRIL (i. 1866.] 

It was January 21, instead of 15, as was his plan had his 
movements not been delayed, when General Sherman bade 
farewell to Savannah and sailed for Beaufort, S. C, touching 
at Hilton Head to give General Foster his final orders, reach- 
ing destination on January 23. 

He found his troops in position near the head of the Broad, 
as he had ordered, and assumed immediate command. General 
Schofield went by sea to North Carolina with the Twenty-third 
Corps. As for the enemy, Hardee was cooped up in Charles- 
ton. Beauregard had come from Corinth, Miss., to take gen- 
eral command and resist progress, which was about as possible 
as Canute of old sitting on the beach to scare off a tidal wave. 



330 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

On February i Sherman gave his command, "Advance," 
and forward stepped his boys in blue to set the seal of fate 
upon rebellion. 

The personnel of the general rank and formation of the 
arm}' was practically the same as when it left Atlanta, with 
the exception that Major-General L,ogan, absent on leave, had 
returned to the command of his Fifteenth Corps, and Force was 
transferred to the command of the division of Leggett. 

The strength of the army at different periods of the cam- 
paign was: 

February i 60, 079 

March 1 57, 676 

April 1 81, 150 

April 11 SS, 94S 

And 68 guns. 

The trains and supplies were the same as from Atlanta to 
Savannah . 

The enemy occupied Charleston and Augusta with large 
garrisons. The restless and pugnacious Wheeler, with a re- 
duced force, was playing the hornet on the flanks. General 
Hampton, from the Arm}' of Virginia, was in his native State 
whooping up things ' ' to stay the progress of the invader ' ' and 
to ' ' punish him for the invasion of the glorious State of South 
Carolina." 

In this effort he was assisted by Gen. M. C. Butler, of the 
same State. Hood also was " hiking" across Georgia to make 
a junction on Sherman's front. 

The strength of the enemy in the field was figured: 

Hardee and Wheeler 25, 000 

Hampton and Butler 15, 000 



Total 40, 000 

This force might be sufficient to make it troublesome to 
cross some of the great rivers on the way, but nothing more. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 331 

For these emergency efforts General Sherman expressed 
the most supreme contempt, but as to whether L,ee would 
remain to be besieged by Grant and permit Sherman to cut off 
his supplies in the direction of the Carolinas was the problem 
to be solved. It was his hope that Lee would make the 
attempt to wrench himself from the grip of Grant, in which 
event Sherman had it set up to catch him between Goldsboro 
and Raleigh. 

To leave nothing to chance the General arranged with 
Admiral Dahlgren and General Foster to watch his course 
inland and provide points of security along the coast. 

GOLDSBORO THE OBJECTIVE. 

His objective was Goldsboro, N. C, a distance of 425 miles 
in one march, as a point of convenience for ulterior operations 
by reason of two railroads converging there from Wilmington 
and Newbern, on the coast. He calculated upon his army, 
artillery, and trains compassing that immense distance for so 
large an army in the enemy's country within six weeks. The 
region having been cleaned up in the support of L,ee's army, 
trouble was anticipated about supplies, but if worse came to 
worst he could subsist several months on the horses and mules 
in the trains. 

There was no general order of march, the target being the 
South Carolina Railroad, about Blackville. The first day out 
the enemy appeared boldly, to disappear with little reluctance. 
On the 5th Sherman was at Beaufort Bridge, where the forces 
in front put up a slight resistance, to be brushed away. The 
next day, 5 miles from Bamberg, communication between 
Charleston and Augusta was effectually wrecked. The next 
day a party of foragers captured the South Carolina Railroad 
without waiting for the column to get up. Such was the 
dismay of the enemy on the front. At this point 50 miles of 



332 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

road were destroyed beyond repair before the end now certain. 
The enemy gathered himself for a tussel at the crossing of the 
Edisto, but ran upon Sherman's bristling bayonets swinging 
into sight. On the 9th the army reached Blackville. The 
next move was to beat in the sprint for Columbia. Meanwhile 
Kilpatrick made a demonstration toward Aiken to keep up the 
delusion about Augusta. 

CROSSING THE SOUTH EDISTO. 
[FEBRUARY 11, 1865.] 

After crossing the South Edisto on the nth, the general 
march was resumed. Having passed the main stream heading 
for Columbia, intelligence was received of a concentration from 
Charleston and Augusta, and from Virginia. The main army 
was now 21 miles from that point. General Beauregard, 
brought on from Mississippi, was in general command. 

On the 14th Sherman lay on the Congaree, 8 miles below 
his objective. The stream was rapid and deep, rendering pon- 
toons not impossible, but unreliable as a means of passage. 

OCCUPATION OF COLUMBIA. 
[FEBRUARY 16-U, 1865.] 

On the night of the 16th Sherman in bivouac on the 
opposite side could see the lights of the city. Around him 
were the remains of huts and holes of "Camp Sorghum," 
where thousands of prisoners of the national forces had been 
held. 

By skillful maneuvering above and below, the enemy was 
forced back, leaving the way open to the transfer of the main 
body by means of boats, the advance pushing to the Camden 
and Winnsboro road. The General was promptly met by the 
mayor, who formally tendered the surrender of the place and 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 333 

asked for orders. He was relieved by an assurance of safety 
for private property. 

An incident occurred which much touched the heart of the 
grim warrior. Several escaped victims of the horrors of 
southern military prison corrals pushed their way through 
the terror-stricken crowd into his presence, one of the number 
handing a paper requesting him to read it at his leisure. That 
night in going over the accumulation of such matters during 
the day, this document proved to be the well-known song, 
"Sherman's March to the Sea." Its author was Adjt. 
S. H. M. Byers, of the Fifth Iowa Volunteers. The General, 
pleased with the sentiment and lines, sent for Byers, attached 
him to his staff, and gave him a mount. A glee club, it 
seems, of prisoners in the Columbia camp, had become so 
proficient that even the ladies, full of hate in their hearts, 
could not repress lending them their ears. 

A REMINISCENCE OF FORMER DAYS. 

It spoke much for the gallantry of the lieutenant of the 
forties to find the number of ladies along the line of march 
who desired to renew his acquaintance. 

While walking through the city of Columbia with the mayor 
the General's quick eye rested upon a peaceful home with fine 
flocks of chickens and clucks within the inclosure. The lady 
of the house met him as he entered; the General remarking: 
" Madame, I am pleased to notice our men have not handled 
your premises as is their wont." 

" I owe it to you, General." 

" Not at all." 

" Oh, yes; I am indebted to you. You remember our home 
on Cooper River in 1S45? You gave me a book." 

This was a stunner to the war-battered veteran. 



334 Sherman: A Memorial Sketcli. 

"Here it is," suiting the action to the word. 

Turning to the fly leaf he read: "To Miss Poyas, 

with the compliments of W. T. Sherman, first lieutenant, 
Third Artillery." 

He instantly recalled the young lady, her fad for water 
colors, and a mutual sentiment in that direction. He re- 
sponded with inquiries about her father, mother, and sisters, 
and particularly her brother, James, with whom he used to 
hunt on the Cooper, some 40 miles above Charleston. 

She told her story. She had heard frightful stories of 
cruelties a.nd devastations committed along his line of march 
and was in doubt whether the "bad man" was W. T. or 
T. W. Sherman, both of whom were in the Northern Army. 
When Hampton left she saw no escape from this awful man. 
So fortifying herself with this little volume, a long-treasured 
relic of maiden days, she decided to prayerfully await develop- 
ments. The ' ' boys ' ' were on hand and over the fence. In a 
jiffy the chickens and ducks were scattering in every direction. 
At length a young man, with a "fine" beard, appearing to 
have authority, entered upon the scene. In womanly despera- 
tion she appealed to him in the name of "his General." He 
was familiar with that sort of pleading. 

" What do you know of ' Uncle Billy,' at any rate? " 

" When he was a young man he was a friend in Charleston, 
and here is a book he gave me." 

This was not counted in his tactics. The young officer 
looked it over, shouting: 

"Hello, boys, here's something." 

The boys, piling over one another to get a squint, sent up a 
chorus, the officer leading: 

'"That's so. That's Uncle Billy's writing. I have seen it 
before. ' ' 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 335 

A cessation of hostilities followed. A soldier remained on 
duty until the provost guard arrived. 

"Was the guard good to you? " inquired the General. 

"A very nice young man; he is in the other room minding 
my baby, while I have come out to meet you." 

Take a woman for quick wit in an extremity. Five minutes 
would have rifled the premises before the placing of the provost 
guards. Before leaving the city the General sent her a half 
tierce of rice and 100 pounds of ham from his own mess stores. 

At the same city he met another friend of happy days, a Mrs. 
Simons, born Wragg, of Charleston. That night, her house 
being in danger from the devouring element, the General 
ordered his own train harnessed and conveyed herself and 
family and possessions to his own headquarters to avoid the 
danger, giving up his own room and bed. 

It was another quality of Sherman's make up. No matter 
how much engrossed in great things, he always had time for 
small ones. 

The violent winds were sweeping the tongues of flame across 
the city, cutting a swath of resistless destruction. Sherman, 
Howard, Logan, and Woods, general officers, and an extra 
division, were on duty throughout the night to stay further 
progress. 

By 3 a. m., the winds having abated, the fire spent its energy, 
but sunrise revealed the heart of the city in ruins. 

It was afterwards demonstrated in the international commis- 
sion on American and British claims, under the treaty of 
Washington, that the burning of Columbia did not result from any 
act of the Government of the United States. It was proven 
that General Hampton's cavalry, before fleeing from the city, 
set fire to the enormous quantities of stored cotton. The high 
winds did the rest. 



336 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

In order to meet the present needs of the inhabitants, the 
General turned over to the mayor 500 head of prime cattle and 
100 muskets and ammunition to guard them. 

Among the captured articles was a large quantity of Confed- 
erate scrip, which the soldiers spent liberally and gambled 
away not a little. The dies were carried off, but the machinery 
was demolished. 

The 1 8th and 19th having been devoted to the demolition of 
the railroad, the column headed for Winnsboro, which the left 
wing reached on the 21st. The corps of Hood paralleled the 
inarch without daring to attack. 

CROSSING THE CATAWBA. 
[FEBRUARY 23-25, I860.] 

A feint was made on Charlotte, where Beauregard made 
another futile display of concentration. In the meantime 
Sherman was making for Fayetteville with all possible dis- 
patch. At the Catawba, at Rocky Mount, owing to the high 
stage of the river and the difficulty of using his pontoons, which 
were finally swept away, he was delayed a week owing to the 
Fourteenth Corps being left on the west bank. A part of the 
army halted at Hanging Rock to cover the final crossing. 
Hardee had escaped to Cheraw in time to get across the Pedee 
before the advance. 

It was here learned of the capture of Wilmington. The 
army was now in position for the first time since leaving 
Savannah to communicate with the outer world. 

All being across the Catawba (27th), the column headed for 
Cheraw, while the cavalry were feinting on Charleston and 
Savannah. The roads were so cut up with mud, owing to the 
nature of the ground and rains, that it was only by means of 
corduroying that progress was possible with the artillery and 
wagons, and not much better with the infantry. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 337 

CHERAW. 
[MARCH 3, 1865.] 

On March 3 the army entered Cheraw. The next day, while 
riding out of Chesterfield with the Twentieth Corps, seeing a 
negro hy the roadside, aghast with wonder at the cloud of 
" Yankee deliverers," the General inquired: 

" Where does this road lead?" 

"Him lead to Cheraw, Massa." 

' ' Good road ? ' ' 

"Yes, Massa; very good for we 'uns." 

"How far?" 

"Ten miles, Massa, if you foots it; 5 miles by mule." 

"Any guerrillas? " 

"No, Massa; done gone two days; play chinquapins on the 
coat tails, sich a hurry." 

The General at the time was on his Lexington mount, his 
famous battle steed. 

The negro, transfixed by the immensity of things, was in a 
quandary which way to turn. 

After a while, General Barry coming along, shouted: 

' ' Hallo ! What are you doing there ? ' ' 

" Dey say Massa Sherman coming soon. I'se waiting, 
'specting to see Massa Sherman." 

"You were just speaking to General Sherman." 

" De great God! " exclaimed the negro, falling on his knees, 
"jist look at dat boss!" Lighting out, he soon overtook the 
General. Pulling up by the side of Lexington, he trotted 
along with wondering admiration divided between ' ' Massa 
Sherman" and "dat hoss." 

In the colloquy which ensued the General concluded that 
his self-constituted flanker admired the horse more than the 
rider. 



338 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

The enemy was still confused and scattered. At Cheraw 
large quantities of stores were taken and destroyed. Having 
carried his army safe across the Pedee, the General breathed 
easier as far as such natural obstructions as great streams lay in 
the way of his progress. The Cape Fear, he felt assured, was 
in possession of the United States forces. 

WAR AND WINE. 

The day was a soaker. As far as possible the men kept under 
cover while the destruction of public property, factories, and 
railroads was going on. In the meantime the officers indulged 
in a little camp sociability. At one of the corps headquarters 
the General, happening on hand, was invited " to join." 

'"Blair," said Sherman, "this wine is excellent. Where did 
you get it?" 

" Do you like it?" 

"I insist on knowing where you got it. Anymore to be 
had? This is a rich man's luxury, not a poor man's necessity." 

' ' Do you wish some?" 

The same day a case of superb old Madeira, in bottles, 
cobwebbed with years, was dropped at military division head- 
quarters. 

In nosing around, Blair's men had uncovered about eight 
wagonloads of this palate-tickling liquid, which was distributed 
in fair proportion among the generals, officers, and men of the 
command. The article was sent up from the vaults of one of 
the aristocratic Palmetto families of Charleston for safe-keep- 
ing. Besides immense supplies and family articles, from other 
cities, there were taken 24 guns, 2,000 muskets, and 3,600 
barrels of powder. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 339 

CROSSING THE PEDEE. 
[MARCH 6-7, 1865.] 

On the 6th (March) the army crossed the Pedee and strung 
out for Fayetteville. Anticipating concentration on his front, 
the General held his forces close in hand. His old chieftain of 
the enemy, Joseph E. Johnston, again in the saddle, seemed 
to be going the same way. 

On the 8th, from Laurel, Sherman dispatched two couriers, 
by different routes, with ciphers for the ' ' Commanding officer 
at Wilmington, N. C," announcing his intention to reach 
Goldsboro by Sunday, requesting a boat to be sent up the Cape 
Fear with bread, sugar, and coffee, having an abundance of 
everything else, and to send word to General Schofield to join 
him with his corps at Goldsboro. 

As Sherman's "boys" tramped into Fayetteville on the 
nth, Hardee and Hampton left in due and undue haste, barely 
escaping falling into their clutches. The entire army was now 
around their chief. 

AGAIN IN TOUCH WITH THE COAST. 

The next day, the Sabbath, being devoted to rest, about noon 
the shrill sound of a steam whistle started every ear on the 
alert. A moment later shout upon shout followed along the 
river banks. It was the steamer from Wilmington Harbor. 
Sherman, recalling the occasion, said: 

The effect was electric. No one can realize the feeling unless, like us, 
he has been for months cut off from all communication with friends and 
compelled to listen to the croaking and prognostications of open enemies. 

The skipper, Ainsworth by name, with a mail bag over his 
shoulder, led the improvised parade to headquarters. The 
couriers from Laurel had arrived safe, and this was the response. 



34-0 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

General Terry, prompt to act, had started him upstream at 2 
p. m. the day before. 

The General, as quick with his pen as his sword, sat down to 
his correspondence to be dispatched down the river the same 
evening. 

To Secretary Stanton he wrote in part: 

I have done all I proposed. * * * 

These points were regarded as inaccessible to us. Now no place in the 
Confederacy is safe against the Army of the West. * * * Let Lee hold 
on to Richmond and we will destroy his country. He must come out and 
fight us in the open ground. For that we must ever be read} - . Let him stick 
behind his parapets and he will perish. 

To Grant, giving the story of the campaign briefly told: 

Our march has been substantially what I desired. * * * 

I hope you have not been uneasy about us, and that the fruits of the 

march will be appreciated. 

If I can now add Goldsboro, I will be in position to aid you materially 

in spring. Joe Johnston may try to interpose, but I will go straight at 

him. 

To Terry, indicating the supplies he desired: 

We have swept the country well from Savannah here. The people of 
South Carolina, instead of feeding Lee's army, will now call upon Lee to 
feed them. 

Have boats escorted and run at night at any risk. * * * We must 
not give time for Joe Johnston to concentrate at Goldsboro. We can not 
prevent it at Raleigh, but he shall have no rest. * * * Hurry supplies. 
Every day is worth a million dollars. * * * I must rid my army of 
20,000 to 30,000 useless mouths. 

I expect to form a junction with Schofield at Goldsboro, so as to be ready 
for the next and last stage of the war. 

ON TO GOLDSBORO. 
[MARCH 13-22, 1865.] 

On March 13-15 the Cape Fear was crossed. The advance 
on Goldsboro began. The General was prepared at any moment 
for attack. Having unloaded the horde of refugees, he felt 
himself unencumbered and in shape for action. Johnston was 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 341 

known to have a force of 37,000 men on his left and front. 
During the entire day the enemy resisted with infantry, artil- 
lery, and cavalry. At Averysboro (16th) Hardee held a 
strong position in his path, but was quickly turned, with the loss 
of part of a brigade, a battery of 3 guns, 108 dead, and 68 
wounded left on the field. Sherman's loss was 12 officers and 
65 men killed and 477 wounded. 

The enemy hastened toward Smithfield. 

HOW HEROES FEEL. 

In a letter of February 7 Grant writes him: 

I have received your very kind letters, in which you say you would 
decline, or are opposed to, a promotion. No one would be more pleased at 
your advancement than I; and if you should be placed in my position and 
I put subordinate, it would not change our personal relations in the least. 
I would make the same exertions to support you that you have ever done 
to support me, and would do all in my power to make our cause win. 

THE OBJECTIVE GAINED A BASE AGAINST RICHMOND. 

[MARCH 28, isi}.'>.] 

From Averysboro the General swung his left wing eastward 
to Goldsboro. On the 18th his bivouac was 5 miles from Ben- 
ton ville and 27 miles from the former objective, as well as 
strategic point. Supposing all danger passed, he crossed to his 
left wing, to be near Generals Schofield and Terry, known to be 
approaching. Scarcely had he taken his new post (19th) than 
messengers brought intelligence that Slocum (left wing) had 
butted against Johnston's entire army. Ordering him to stand 
fast for time, Slocum repulsed all attacks and held his ground, 
the enemy facing west. Sherman meanwhile came up from 
the east. 

The next day the enemy decamped in the direction of Smith- 
field, and Sherman pursued his course to Goldsboro, which he 
entered on the 23d. His losses were 1,604 an d those of the 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 23 



342 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

enemy 2,348. Later, commenting upon the tactical features of 
the field at Bentonville, Sherman conceded a great error in not 
overwhelming Johnston's arm}' on May 21, when Mower broke 
through his lines on the extreme flank, and pushing him to 
Bentonville instead of ordering him back, fearing the enemy 
might have made greater concentration than he knew. 

It is the only instance in his military handling of grand tac- 
tics where undue caution got the better of his judgment. In 
his own language: 

I should rapidly have followed Mower with the whole right wing, which 
would have brought on a general battle and could not have resulted other- 
wise than successfully. 

To make assurance doubly sure — 

he preferred to avoid a general engagement until he had effected a junction 
with Schofield and Terry, who were expected to reach Goldsboro on the 
21st. 

On the 23d and 24th he had the satisfaction of witnessing 
every part of his army converged on this point, as originally 
designed, Howard right, Slocum left, and the added strength of 
Schofield's Twenty-third Corps and Terry's Second Division of 
the Tenth Corps. The Newbern Railroad was in running 
order, a locomotive having come through to Goldsboro on the 
23d, which became the new base for the movements which 
exerted a resistless bearing upon the scenes of war, now rap- 
idly tending to the capture or dispersion of the armies of the 
rebellion. 

THE LONGEST MARCH IN HISTORV. 

At Goldsboro ended one of the — 

longest and most important marches by an organized army in history in a 
civilized country. From Savannah to Goldsboro the route was 425 miles, 
crossing five large navigable rivers ( Edisto, Broad, Catawba, Pedee, and Cape 
Fear), each of which with a small force could have made a strong, if not 
impregnable, frontal resistance. The country was almost in a state of 
nature, swampy, with mud roads, which had to be corduroyed. It cap- 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 343 

tured the important depots of Columbia, Cheraw, and Fayetteville, com- 
pelled the evacuation of Charleston, broke up all the railroads in South 
Carolina, and consumed food and forage for the whole march of fifty-five 
days, marching 10 miles a day, and arrived in perfect flesh and invincible 
spirit — 

with the enemy short a large number of killed, wounded, and 

missing, and timid and demoralized. 

ENTERS THE THEATER OP GRANT'S OPERATIONS. 

In resuming his march Sherman came within the theater of 
General Grant's operations, with no army capable of delaying 
him, unless Lee should leave Richmond, join Johnston, and meet 
him alone. Now that Schofield and Terry had united with 
him, he was not even fearful of that. General Grant before 
Richmond also detected indications of the rapidly approaching 
crisis. 

In a letter, in reply to Sherman's of the 12th, reviewing the 
operations in Thomas's department and Sheridan's famous 
raid, General Grant begau to let out intimations of preparations 
for a bold stroke of Lee to free himself from his Richmond trap. 
With this in view, he wrote of moving Thomas to Bulls Gap, 
where he proposed he should throw up fortifications to prevent 
Lee from falling back to Lynchburg and retreating into eastern 
Tennessee and Kentucky. There were abundant stores at 
Knoxville. 

In furtherance of the plan, Thomas was ordered by Grant 

not to destroy any railroads west of the Virginia line, in order 

to be ready for a campaign against Lynchburg, adding as to 

Sherman himself with his back on the coast — 

he might feel safe against anything the enemy can do. Lee may evacuate 
Richmond but he can not get there in force enough to touch you. His 
army is demoralized and deserting fast, both to us and to their homes. 

On every side he detected evidence of disintegration. 

On the 22d Sherman wrote Grant from Coxs Bridge, Neuse 



344 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

River, North Carolina, taking a retrospect of his operations 
since his letter from Fayetteville (14th) and mentioning his 
purpose to "organize three armies of 25,000 men each, ready 
to march to Raleigh or Weldon by or before April 10." The 
next day (from Goldsboro) Sherman wrote again, "I will, in 
a short time, be read}' to march against Raleigh, Gaston, Wel- 
don, or even Richmond, as you should determine." 

On the 24th, writing to Grant (from Goldsboro), he indicated 
that he saw — 

pretty clearl}' how in one or two moves we can checkmate Lee, bring him 
to unite Johnston with him in defense of Richmond, of abandon the cause, 
[He felt certain] if he leave Richmond, Virginia leaves the Confederacy. 
The families (in Goldsboro) remain, but I will gradually push them all 
out to Raleigh or Wilmington. 

REMINISCENT. 

As a diversion to the serious work of the campaign, the War 
Department arranged an event, emotional and patriotic, by 
(G. O., 27, 1865) ordering Brevet Major-Geueral Anderson, on 
April 14, 1865, to raise over the ruins of Fort Sumter the same 
United States flag which he ' ' floated over the battlements dur- 
ing the rebel assault and which was lowered and saluted by 
him on April 14, 1861," to be now saluted by 100 guns from 
Fort Sumter and a national salute from every fort and former 
rebel battery that fired upon it; also suitable ceremonies were 
to be had under the direction of Maj. Gen. William T. Sher- 
man, whose military operations compelled the rebels to evacu- 
ate Charleston. In his absence General Gillmore, commanding 
the department, was to represent him. Rev. Henry Ward 
Beecher was to deliver a public address and the naval forces in 
Charleston Harbor were to participate. General Sherman was 
too intent on the grand culmination at Richmond to give atten- 
tion to these reminiscent events. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 345 

GIRDING UP THE LINES. 

The closing scene of the tread of armies in the drama of the 
civil war in the United States had now been reached. The 
raids of Sheridan, under the orders of Grant, north of the 
James, on the south side near Petersburg, and at Danville near 
the Appomattox, and Grant in person moving by his left with 
all the force available, holding his intrenched lines to prevent 
Lee from striking Sheridan and prepared for ' ' anything that 
turns up," speedily brought matters to a focus. 

To Sherman he wrote: 

If Lee detaches I will attack; if he comes out I will repulse and follow 
him up to the best advantage. * * * His force is now estimated at 
65,000. 

Among the movements on the outer spheres were Wilson off 
toward the west from East Point; Stoneman from East Tennes- 
see toward Lynchburg; Thomas in motion to Bulls Gap; Canby 
in Mobile and the interior of Alabama; Gillmore from Charles- 
ton to reenforce Wilmington. Troops belonging to Sherman 
were being shipped to Newbern, adding 5,000 to those of his 
march. 

A VISIT TO CITY POINT. 

During the repair of the railroad to Goldsboro, March 25, 
leaving Schofield in chief command, Sherman, accompanied by 
his personal staff, left for City Point, by way of Newbern and 
Morehead City on a locomotive, and Fortress Monroe and up 
the James to City Point by steamer, arriving March 27. Gen- 
eral Grant received him most gladly. 

The President being there, the two generals called and were 
in conference for several hours. Mr. Lincoln asked no end of 
questions about the ' ' great march and plans, ' ' but was decid- 
edly off his equanimity on account of the General's absence 
from his command. No amount of persuasion could influence 



346 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

him to the contrary. He felt encouraged that things had pro- 
gressed so well so far, and did not desire to take any chances of 
a backset. 

SOMETHING OVERLOOKED. 

Upon returning to quarters the generals were accosted by 
Mrs. Grant. "I presume, of course, you saw Mrs. Lincoln. 
What did she say? " The pronoun emphasized. 

The generals glanced at each other inquisitively; in fact, 
quizzically. 

"No," responded General Grant, rather demurely; "I did 
not ask for Mrs. Lincoln." 

"I did not know she was abroad," chimed in General 
Sherman. 

"Well," said Mrs. Grant, "you are indeed a pretty pair." 

These were not carpet knights, yet she chidingly added: 

"Your neglect is without excuse; an unpardonable breach of 
etiquette toward the first lady of the land." 

The good lady might have learned something different had it 
been a breach of the enemy's works. 

The offenders promised to correct the oversight. 

The next day, accompanied by Admiral S. Porter, they 
essayed a ' ' call of etiquette ' ' upon the President and ' ' the first 
lady of the land." 

The President received the defendants in person, escorting 
them to his cabin on the steamer. 

After being seated, General Grant made the first dash of 
inquiry for Mrs. Lincoln. 

The President struck for her stateroom, but returned instantly, 
laden with excuses, the most etiquetical of which was, " Mrs. 
Lincoln begs to be excused, not being well." 

A President, a lieutenant-general, a major-general, and an 
admiral looked as much as to say, " These women." 



6 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 347 

PARTING WORDS. 

The conversation then turned upon topics with which they 
were more familiar — the military situation in general, Grant at 
Richmond, and Sherman at Goldsboro. 

Sherman said he was strong enough to fight Lee and 
Johnston combined provided Grant came up in a day or two. 
If Lee would remain in Richmond he could march to Burksville. 
Lee would then starve inside or must fight on equal terms 
outside. 

Grant realized that one or the other must fight one more 
fierce battle, which would be the last. 

Lincoln. Whether another battle could not be avoided? 

Grant. That will depend upon the enemy. 

Sherman. It may fall upon me at Raleigh; I will be prepared. 

Grant. If Lee will wait a few days in an attempt to join 
Johnston in North Carolina, I will be on his back. 

Lincoln to Sherman. Are you not afraid something might 
happen to your army? 

Sherman. I will return at once. Are you read}-, Mr. Presi- 
dent, for the end? What is to be done with their armies, and 
what with the political leaders? 

Lincoln. I am ready. Defeat the Confederate armies and 
get the people back on their farms. Davis ought to clear out, 
" escape the country," only I can not say so. 

Admiral Porter, in 1866, prepared a brief of this eventful 
conversation, which he sent to Sherman. 

It is due to the memory of Lincoln and of Sherman, in the 
unpleasant misunderstanding which followed the original Sher- 
man terms to Johnston, to add from Porter: 

Mr. Lincoln, if he had lived, would have acquitted the General of any 
blame, for he was only carrying out the President's wishes. The President 
came to City Point with most liberal terms toward the rebels. The 



348 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

President was excited and wanted peace on any terms. His heart was 
tenderness throughout. So long as the rebels laid down their arms he did 
not care how it was done. He assured Sherman that he was ready for 
civil reorganization as soon as they laid down their arms and resumed civil 
pursuits, guaranteeing all rights of citizenship and avoiding anarchy. 
The existing State governments were to be recognized until Congress pro- 
vided other. The President was delighted with the terms to Lee, exclaim- 
ing, " Exactly the thing! " but insisted on the surrender of Johnston on 
any terms. 

During the conversation General Grant vigorously smoked, 
wrapped in thought. Sherman yielded to the President's 
views wholly, whatever might have been his private opinions. 

As Sherman left them on the gang plank of the River Queen, 
at noon, March 28, 1865, the President's last words were, "I 
shall feel better satisfied when you are back." 

About a fortnight later came the tragic climax. 

In his summing up General Sherman said: 

Of all the men I ever met he seemed to possess more of the elements of 
greatness, combined with goodness, than any other. 

THE FINAL ROUND-UP. 

Upon leaving General Grant, Sherman engaged to be ready 
to march northward April 10. His first act (March 30) of 
preparation was the reorganization of his army to meet the 
requirements of its closing duty in the general round-up of 
the armies in rebellion. 

In outline his forces at this time were as follows: 

Right wi?ig. — Army of the Tennessee, Maj. Gen. O. O. 
Howard; Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, 7 divisions, 91 
regiments of infantry and 14 batteries; total, 28,834 men. 

Left wing. — Army of Georgia, Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum; 
Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps, 6 divisions, 96 regiments and 
12 batteries; total, 28,063 m en. 

Center. — Army of the Ohio, Maj. Gen. J. M. Schofield; Tenth 
and Twenty-third Corps, 6 divisions, 69 regiments of volunteer 



Sherman; A Memorial Sketch. 349 

infantry, 9 regiments of colored troops, and 10 batteries; total, 
26,392 men. 

Cavalry division. — Brig. Gen. J. Kilpatrick; 3 brigades, 14 
regiments and 1 batten-; total, 5,659 troopers. 

Grand total, 88,948 men and 91 guns. 

This force was composed of regiments representing the States 
(in about this l'elation of numbers) of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, 
Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, New Jer- 
sey, New York, Minnesota, Kentucky, Connecticut, Massa- 
chusetts, Alabama, Maine, and New Hampshire. 

FALL OF RICHMOND. ' 

On April 5, General Sherman issued his general orders for 
the march northward, to force Johnston to engage and close 
up Richmond. This programme, however, was suddenly 
changed by the fall of Richmond and Petersburg on that very 
day. Lee's army having fled toward Danville with Grant in 
full pursuit, Sherman, anticipating an attempt to effect a junc- 
tion with Johnston's 35,000 men, dashed straight for Raleigh, 50 
miles distant, expecting to strike him possibly at Smithfield. 

On the 8th Sherman heard from Grant, dated the 5th, at 

Wilson's Station — 

the rebel armies are now the only strategic point to strike. * * * 
Lee has only 20,000 men left and those demoralized. 

Sherman replied he would move on the 10th, as planned, 
for Raleigh. On the nth he was at Smithfield, Johnston hav- 
ing retired. 

CAPTURE OF RALEIGH. 
[APRIL 13, 1865.] 

As he entered Raleigh (April 13) he received a deputation 
from the governor asking protection. To whom he replied, 
wishing the civil authorities to remain in office until the 



350 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

President were heard from. When he arrived, however, the 
governor (Vance) had "left," but the others remained to 
transact business. 

All the outlying operations of Stonemau and Wilson and 
Sheridan were working to a charm. 

FLAG OF TRUCE FROM THE ENEMY. 
APRIL 14. 1805. 

During the early morning of the 14th Kilpa trick, from Dur- 
ham Station, 26 miles toward Hillsboro, reported a flag of truce 
with a packet from General Johnston addressed to General 
Sherman. Johnston asked — 

a temporary cessation of hostilities, and requested the communication to 
be sent to Lieutenant-General Grant, commanding the armies of the 
United States, [asking] that he take like action (as toward Lee's) in 
regard to the other armies. 

General Sherman replied from Raleigh that he was — 

empowered to arrange terms for a suspension of hostilities and was will- 
ing to confer, both armies (his own advancing to Morrisville ) to maintain 
their present positions, and agree upon a basis on the same terms as Grant 
to Lee at Appomattox. 

CONSIDER TERMS OF SURRENDER. 
APRIL 17, 18«5. 

The next day the two commanders met in a house between 
Sherman's advance, at Durham, and Johnston's rear, at Hills- 
boro. 

As Sherman was about to leave his headquarters, it being 
8 a. m., April 17, a dispatch in cipher was handed him announc- 
ing the assassination of President Lincoln. Giving orders to 
withhold the startling intelligence until his return, he set out 
for Durham, 26 miles, which he reached at 10 a. m., on a 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 351 

locomotive. With several officers of his staff, and General 
Kilpatrick and escort, the General and party advanced up the 
Hillsboro road 5 miles, Johnston approaching from the opposite 
direction. Sherman rode forward. The generals shook hands. 
Although both had been in the Regular Army, Johnston being 
twelve years Sherman's senior, this was their first meeting. 
Leaving their officers outside, they entered a farmhouse nearby. 
The General began by exhibiting the announcement of Presi- 
dent Lincoln's assassination, watching its effect. He later 
said: "Johnston appeared in great distress. The perspiration 
rolled down his cheeks in great drops." 

' ' I hope the crime will not be charged to the Confederate 
government," said Johnston, almost sobbing. 

The General assured him to the contrary as to himself and 
Lee or officers of the Confederate army, but " I will not say as 
much for Jeff Davis, George Sanders, and men of that stripe," 
adding that he had not disclosed the news even to his staff, but 
would address his army later, as the late President "was very 
dear to the soldiers and feared that Raleigh might share the 
fate of Columbia." 

General Johnston proposed the terms mould embrace all 
the Confederate armies, for which he the -ght he could get 
authority. Sherman repeated his conferer ^e with Lincoln, 
but several weeks before, who was not vindic.ive against the 
armies, but had much feeling against Davis a. d his political 
adherents. Johnston admitted that the terms c f Grant were 
generous. 

After these preliminaries they separated. 
Another meeting was held the next day. 

The same night, the news of the assassination having been 
promulgated, Sherman conferred with his army and corps 
commanders, who urged him to accept some terms in order to 



352 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

prevent a dispersion of Johnston's army and an endless task of 
gathering up the fragments. 

The second conference was on. General Johnston gave assur- 
ances of authority to include all the Confederate armies in the 
terms, but should have some understanding as to their political 
rights after the surrender. 

Sherman recalled President Lincoln's amnesty proclamation 
of December 8, 1863, granting pardon to all below the rank of 
colonel laying down their arms and taking the oath of alle- 
giance. As to the case of Lee, the amnesty was universal, even 
including Lee. 

THE ORIGINAL TERMS -SIGNED. 

It was then Sherman drew up the terms, as he understood 
them from the late President, which would be submitted to the 
new, the armies to remain in statu quo. Handing the paper to 
Johnston, Sherman remarked: " This is the best I can do, sub- 
ject to approval by higher authority." 

" I accept the terms," said Johnston, "in the spirit of kind- 
ness in which you have tendered them. Shall they be signed?" 

The signatures of these two commanding generals in the field 
were appended. The terms went forward. In the words of 
Sherman, later — 

I cared little whether approved, modified, or disapproved. All I wanted 
was instructions. 

His two best fighting and political generals, Logan and 
Blair, urged acceptance without reference to Washington. 

As an aside, Halleck wrote to Sherman, naming a "scamp 
set up" to assassinate him in the general massacre proposed 
by Booth and his accomplices. Sherman replied promptly: 
' ' Tell him he had better be in a hurry or he will be too 
late." He repeated Johnston's assertion, "President Lincoln 
was the best friend the South had." 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 353 

To Grant, inclosing the agreement, he wrote by way of 
comment: 

If approved by the President of the United States, it will bring peace 
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande. It is an absolute submission of the 
enemy to the lawful authorities of the United States, disperses his armies 
absolutely, and prevents their breaking up into guerrilla bands. 

The moment the agreement is approved I can spare five corps. Leaving 
Schofield here with the Tenth, I can march north with the Fourteenth, 
Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-third, via Burksville and 
Gordonsville, to Frederick or Hagerstown, Md., to be paid and mustered 
out. 

OUTLINE OF THE ORIGINAL TERMS. 

It is well to outline the terms of the agreement which 
caused such a commotion, so much misapprehension, and, in 
some instances, bitter personal feeling: 

The armies in statu quo until notice; forty-eight hours 
allowed the Confederate armies to disband; to be conducted 
to their State capitals to deposit their arms and public prop- 
erty in the State arsenals; each officer and man to file an 
agreement to cease from acts of war; to abide the action of 
the State and Federal authorities; the number of arms and 
munitions of war to be reported to the chief of ordnance in 
the States respectively for action of Congress; the recogni- 
tion by the Executive of the United States of the several 
State governments, on officers and legislature taking the oath 
prescribed by the Constitution; reestablishment of the Fed- 
eral courts; guaranty of private rights, person, and property as 
defined by the Constitution; war to cease; general amnesty, as 
far as the Executive authority can grant it, on condition of dis- 
bandment of the Confederate armies and resumption of peaceful 
pursuits by officers and men hitherto composing said armies. 

During the interim of transmission the army was occupied 
in repair of the railroad and possession from Raleigh to Wel- 
don, in the direction of Norfolk. 






354 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

On the 20th the General reviewed the Tenth Corps. This 
was the first time he had seen black troops as part of an 
organized army. 

DISAPPROVAL OF TERMS OF SURRENDER — ARRIVAL OF GRANT. 

APRIL 24, 1865. 

On April 24 General Grant arrived with the disapproval of 
' ' the terms, ' ' and carrying with him orders to give Johnston 
notice of a renewal of hostilities after the lapse of forty-eight 
hours, Sherman to limit his operations to his immediate 
command and not to attempt civil negotiations, but to demand 
the surrender of Johnston's army on the same terms granted 
to Lee at Appomattox on April 9, "purely and simply" to 
resume the pursuit on the expiration of forty-eight hours. 

At 6 a. m., on the same day, General Sherman sent to Gen- 
eral Johnston his formal notice of the cessation of the suspen- 
sion of hostilities, forty-eight hours after the receipt of the same 
at his lines. 

This he accompanied with a note of his instructions to limit — 

operations to your immediate command and not to attempt civil negotia- 
tions. * * * I therefore demand the surrender of your army on the 
same terms as were given to General Lee at Appomattox, April 9, instant, 
purely and simply. 

These communications were approved by General Grant. 
The army was notified of the resumption of hostilities as indi- 
cated. General Gillmore, at Hilton Head, and Wilson, at 
Macon, were cautioned to the same effect. 

The business which brought Grant so abruptly to Raleigh 
was a dispatch from Secretary Stanton, of date April 21, for- 
mally announcing the President's disapproval of the Sherman- 
Johnston agreement, ordering the notice to be conveyed to 
General Sherman directing him to resume hostilities, reiterat- 
ing the instructions of March 3 to him by the late President as 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch 355 

expressing the views of President Andrew Johnson, which 

were to be observed by General Sherman, and concluding: 

The President desires that you proceed immediately to the headquarters 
of Major-General Sherman and direct operations against the enemy. 

THE DISPATCH OE MARCH 3. 

For the first time the dispatch of March 3, 1865, 12 m., 
Secretary Stanton to Lieutenant-General Grant, received at City 
Point, Va., March 4, 1865, came to the knowledge of General 
Sherman: 

In effect the President directs me to say to you [Grant] that he wishes 
you to have no conference with General Lee unless it be for the capitula- 
tion of Lee's army or on solely minor and purely military matters. You 
are not to decide, discuss, or confer on any political questions. Such ques- 
tions the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no 
military conferences or conventions. 

Had a copy of this dispatch been forwarded to Sherman at the 
time for his own guidance, the sequel to his magnificent marches 
and battles, which had such a direct bearing on events at and 
around Richmond, would not have been shrouded in the morti- 
fication of such discordant happenings. 

ADMIRAL PORTER'S INTERPRETATION. 

As a commentary upon the communication and what it led to, 

it is but fair to the memory of General Sherman, thus acting 

in the dark, and not unfair to Secretary Stanton, to insert here 

the following explanatory statements from Admiral Porter's 

"Account of the interview with Mr. Lincoln," written when 

all the parties to it except Mr. Lincoln were living, General 

Grant being present and having opportunity to take cognizance 

of the statements set forth: 

Sherman, as a subordinate officer, yielded his views to those of the 
President, and the terms of the capitulation between himself and Johnston 
were exactlv in accordance with Mr. Lincoln's wishes. He could not have 



356 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

done anything which would have pleased the President better. Mr. Lin- 
coln did in fact arrange the (so considered) liberal terms offered Gen. Joseph 
Johnston, and whatever may have been General Sherman's private views 
I feel sure that he yielded to the wishes of the President in every respect. 
It was Mr. Lincoln's policy that was carried out, and had he lived long 
enough he would have been but too glad to have acknowledged it. The 
disbanding of Joseph Johnston's army was so complete that the pens and 
ink used in the discussion of the matter were all wasted. 

It was asserted by the rabid ones that General Sherman had given up 
all that we had been fighting for; had conceded everything to Joseph 
E. Johnston, and had, as the boys say, "knocked the fat into the fire," 
but sober reflection soon overruled these harsh expressions and, with 
those who knew General Sherman and appreciated him, he was still the 
"great soldier, patriot, and gentleman." General Grant evidently was 
of the same way of thinking, for although lie did not join in the con- 
versation to any extent yet he made no objections, and I presume had 
made up his mind to allow the best terms himself. He was also anxious 
that Johnston should not be driven into Richmond to reenforce the rebels 
there, who, from behind their strong intrenchments, would have given us 
incalculable trouble. 

General Grant in his reply of the 21st to the transmission 
of the Sherman-Johnston agreement, intimated having read it 
carefully before submission, and felt "satisfied that it could 
not possibly be approved, as it touched upon questions of such 
vital importance." 

He urged the necessity of immediate action by the President 
and entire Cabinet. The result was disapproval, except for 
the surrender of Johnston's army. 

MAKING THE RECORD. 

In this letter General Grant transmitted to Sherman a copy 
of an autograph letter he had himself received from the 
President, though signed by the Secretary of War, in reply 
to a forwarded one from General Lee, proposing to meet 
him (Grant) for the purpose of submitting the question of 
peace to a convention of officers. Concluding to Sherman, 
"Resume hostilities at the earliest moment you can, acting in 
good faith." 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 357 

To this General Sherman replied at length, on the 25th, to 
Lieutenant-General Grant, "present" (at Raleigh), desiring 
to record certain facts bearing upon his terms with General 
Johnston, such as his own liberal terms to General Lee on 
the 9th, and — 

the seeming policy of our Government, as evinced by the call of the 
Virginia legislature and governor back to Virginia under yours and 
President Lincoln's very eyes. 

It now appears this last act was done without any consultation with 
you, or any knowledge of Mr. Lincoln, or rather in opposition to a pre- 
vious policy well considered. 

But how should General Sherman know it unless informed ? 
In this forceful letter, the product of a statesmanlike compre- 
hension of all the issues involved, he fully sustains his position, 
acting as he did entirely upon his own initiative, in the absence 
of relevant facts or instructions, and upon being informed of 
the wishes of the new President, yielding loyally, and receiving 
under the modified terms the surrender of the army which he had 
driven from post to pillar for a distance of 2,500 miles through 
an easily defensible country, without a defeat or even a set- 
back. 

Ln acknowledging the disapproval of ' ' the terms on which 
General Johnston proposed to disarm and disperse the insur- 
gents," to Secretary Stanton, General Sherman fraukly 
said : 

I admit my folly in embracing in a military convention any civil mat- 
ters, yet such is the nature of our situation that they seem inextricably 
united. I understood from you at Savannah that the financial state of 
the country demanded military success and would warrant a little bending 
to policy. 

I still believe the General Government of the United States has made a 
mistake; but that is none of my business. * * * I had flattered myself 
that by four years of patient, unremitting, and successful labor I deserved 
no reminder, such as is contained in the paragraph of vour letter to Gen- 
eral Grant. You may assure the President that I heed his suggestion. 
S. Doc. 320, 5S-2 24 



358 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

JOHNSTON'S UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 
APRIL 26, 1865. 

In the midst of this epistolary adjustment General Johnston, 
not knowing that General Grant was in Raleigh, suggested 
another meeting the next day, April 26, at noon. General 
Grant advised Sherman to meet him, and the acceptance of 
his surrender on the same terms as his with Lee. They met at 
the Bennett House, beyond Durham Station, as before. John- 
ston, without further hesitation, accepted the new terms of a 
military convention bearing even date, April 26, 1865, viz: 

All acts of war on the part of the troops urider General Johnston's com- 
mand to cease from this date 

All arms and public property to be deposited at Greensboro, etc. 

The preparation of rolls of officers and men, and giving of individual 
obligation, in writing, not to take up arms, etc. Side arms of officers and 
their private horses to be retained by them. 

This being done, all officers and men will be permitted to return to their 
homes, etc. 

These were signed by each general in command and approved 
by General Grant, who carried them in person to Washington. 
General Sherman gave the necessary orders to carry the terms 
into effect, General Schofield to have charge of the details. 

The supplemental terms of the convention of April 26 simply 
related to particulars. 

The total number of prisoners of war paroled by General 
Schofield at Greensboro, N. C, was 36,817. 

Surrendered to General Wilson in Georgia and Florida, 

52,453- 

Surrendered under the capitulation of General Johnston to 

General Sherman, 89,270. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 359 

FLIGHT OF JEFFERSON DAVIS AND THE GOLD FAKE. 

There seemed to be no end of annoyance to the conqueror of 

Georgia and the Carolinas. On the allegation of a newspaper 

dispatch, with the sanction of authority, it was given out that 

large sums of specie, put as high as $13,000,000, were being 

taken South by Jefferson Davis and his partisans: 

They hope, it is said, to make terms with General Sher.max or some 
other commander by which they will be permitted with their gold plun- 
der to go to Mexico or Europe. Johnston's negotiations look to this end. 

The imputation that he might be bribed naturally aroused 
the most supreme indignation. The General regarded it as a 
personal and official insult, which he afterwards publicly 
resented. He also unburdened his thoughts to his ever-sympa- 
thizing friend, the Lieutenant-General, in a letter of April 25, 
requesting, in a P. S. : 

As Mr. Stanton's most singular paper has been published I demand that 
this also be made public, though I am in no manner responsible to the 
press, but to the law and my proper superiors. 

The millions of gold loot Davis was alleged, in the news- 
papers, to be carrying off, when he was captured amounted to 
barely $10,000, part of which was paid to his (Davis's) escort 
and the rest turned over to the Government, where it long inter- 
ested the curiosity of sight-seers. 

As the General in calmer moments said: 

The thirteen millions of treasure, which would require 32 six-mule teams 
to haul, with which Jeff Davis was to corrupt our armies and buy his 
escape, dwindled down to the contents of a hand valise. 

THE VICTOR'S MOVE ON RICHMOND. 
[APRIL 28-MAY S, 18(>o.J 

On April 28 was held an event at the governor's mansion 
at Raleigh, General Sherman's quarters, which was not in the 
original programme. It was an assemblage of all the army and 



360 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

corps commanders, at which the General reviewed the magni- 
tude and splendor of their services to their country, individually 
and collectively, explained his plans for the future, and gave 
orders for their execution. Schofield, Terry, and Kilpatrick 
were to remain on duty in the Department of North Carolina, 
to be commanded by General Schofield. The right and left 
wings were to march under their respective commanding 
generals by easy stages to Richmond, Va., to await his own 
return from the South, whither he went the next day (April 
29) to make final disposition of all military business connected 
with that section of country. 

In the course of his trip he visited Charleston, passing Fort 
Moultrie, the scene of his garrison duty as a lieutenant in the 
forties. 

On May 8 he arrived at Fortress Monroe and telegraphed to 
General Grant, asking for orders. He continued to City 
Point, and on to Manchester, opposite Richmond, where his 
army was in camp, in fine trim, after its march of about 210 
miles from Raleigh. 

ON TO WASHINGTON. 
[MAY 10--20, 1S(>5.] 

On May 10 he received orders to continue the march to 
Alexandria, Va., near Washington, D. C, about 105 miles. 
The march began by the entire army parading through the late 
Confederate capital out on the Hanover road. On the way the 
General took opportunity to visit the great battlefields of the 
Army of the Potomac, Hanover Court House, Spottsylvania, 
Fredericksburg, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, New Market, 
Manassas, and Bull Run, where he had his baptism of fire, 
reaching Alexandria on May 19 and 20. His army went into 
camp on the road about half way between Alexandria and the 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 361 

Long Bridge. The Army of the Potomac, under General 
Meade, was encamped above, opposite Washington and 
Georgetown. 

The next day, by invitation, the General called upon the 
President (Johnson) and General Grant. 

The former ' ' was extremely cordial ' ' and disclaimed ac- 
knowledge of ' ' the two war bulletins ' ' till he had seen them in 
the newspapers. Nor had any of his associates in the Cabinet 
seen them. These facts greatly relieved the tension which had 
cast a gloom over the closing events of the remarkable military 
achievements of this valiant defender of the Union. 

THE GRAND REVIEW — FINALE. 
[MAY 24, is<;5.] 

On May 18 was issued the special order for a grand review 
of the two great armies of the Potomac under General Meade 
on the 23d, and of the combined armies, under Sherman, on 
the 24th. 

During the night preceeding Sherman transferred his entire 
force — Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twentieth Corps — across 
L,ong Bridge and went into bivouac in the streets around the 
Capitol, the Fourteenth, closing up from its old camp to a point 
near the bridge, prepared to cross and follow as the column 
advanced. 

It was a beautiful spring day, such as is common in the lati- 
tude of the capital in May. The city was thronged with peo- 
ple, many of whom had come from long distances to witness 
the pageant, which, in the goodness of things, might never be 
repeated. The multitude had not only gathered along the line 
of march, but at every point of vantage, windows, balconies, 
and even tree boxes and housetops. 

At 9 a. m., as the reverberations of the signal gun vibrated 



362 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

over the city, Sherman, the conqueror, attended by General 

Howard and their staffs, took his place at the head of his 

65,000 veterans who had swept the continent from Vicksburg 

to Meridian, Chattanooga to Atlanta, Atlanta to Savannah, 

Goldsboro to Richmond, and Richmond to Washington, nearly 

2,800 miles. No other conqueror of history had ever made 

such a march. 

In his own words, from the site where now stands his image 

in heroic bronze: 

When I reached the Treasury building and looked back the sight was 
simply magnificent. The column was compact, and the glittering mus- 
kets 'looked like a solid mass of steel, moving with the regularity of a 
pendulum. 

As the column moved onward, passing the Treasury building 
and the President's house, from the stands which lined both 
sides of the great thoroughfare the might}' hosts of spectators 
sent up cheer upon cheer. At the window of his residence, 
looking out upon the moving scene, sat the Secretary of State, 
Mr. Seward, still bandaged for the wounds he had received at 
the hand of an assassin. Catching a sight of the venerable 
statesman the General lifted his hat in salute, receiving in 
return a wave of welcome. 

In passing the President's stand the sword sheathed in vic- 
tory was now drawn in salute. The President, Cabinet, en- 
voys and plenipotentiaries of the nations, justices, all rose to 
send up a wild shout of plaudit to the heroes of the West. 

Then leaving the head of his column, the General joined the 
distinguished group on the dais of the President. After his 
first greeting to his wife, foster father (General Ewiug ), and sou, 
he was given an ovation of felicitation by the President, Gen- 
eral Grant, members of the diplomatic corps, and others there 
gathered. It was a crowning moment. Invited to a place on 
the left of the President, he stood for six and one-half hours 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 363 

looking out upon the men who had contributed to his triumph 

and the perpetuity of the nation. 

In the meditations of his Memoirs he says: 

It was in my judgment the most magnificent army in existence— 65,000 
men, in splendid physique, who had just completed a march of nearly 
2,000 miles in a hostile country, in good drill, and who realized that they 
were being closely scrutinized by thousands of their fellow-countrymen 
and by foreigners. [The actual number of miles is nearer 2,Soo, includ- 
ing detached movements of his armies.] 

After each corps and division passed its commander joined 

the reviewing part}' and was presented to the President. 

Again with pride said the General: 

The steadiness and firmness of the tread, the careful dress on the guides, 
the uniform intervals, all eyes directly to the front, and the tattered and 
battle-worn flags all attracted universal notice. Many good people up to 
that time had looked upon our Western army as a mob; but the world 
then saw and recognized that it was an army well organized, well com- 
manded, and disciplined; and there was no wonder it had swept through 
the South like a tornado. 

There was a corned}- side to this scene of triumph. Not a 
few of the divisions had still with them reminders of the march 
through Georgia and the Carolinas in goats, milch cows, and 
pack mules laden with game cocks, foraged poultry and teams, 
and families of " contraband " negro men, women, and children, 
who held their old places in the procession. Another feature 
was the negro pioneers at the head of each division armed with 
picks, bars, axes, and spades. 

In every respect the ' ' grand review ' ' was a dramatic finale 
and ' ' drop ' ' worthy of the last campaign of the civil war. 

FIELD ORDERS AND FAREWELL. 
[MAY 80, 1865.] 

In Special Field Order, No. 76, Headquarters Military 
Division of the Mississippi in the Field, Washington, D. C, 
May 30, 1865, General Sherman in thrilling terms bade farewell 
to his veterans, thus ending his connection with the civil war. 



364 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

On July 4 following, at Louisville, Ky. , he took a more formal 
leave, the corps of his late arm}', Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Six- 
teenth, and Seventeenth, under command of Gen. John A. 
Logan, having been transferred to that point for "muster out " 
or "further orders." 

On Jul}- 20, 1865, at a banquet in his honor at St. Louis, 
the General reviewed the progress of the war from the incep- 
tion of the operations in the middle zone until their complete 
triumph at Atlanta, Savannah, Columbia, and Goklsboro. He 
gave St. Louis credit as the place where these operations had 
their birth. 

PEACE DUTIES — THE PACIFIC RAILWAYS. 
[IK60-IS66.] 

In the division of the territory of the United States (June 27, 
1865) into departments and military divisions the Military 
Division of the Mississippi (later of the Missouri) was assigned 
to General Sherman, with headquarters at St. Louis, Mo., 
he going there on July 16. This included in part the States 
and Territories north of Texas as far west as the Rocky 
Mountains. 

The busy brain of the General at once turned to the construc- 
tion of the two Pacific railways, Union and Central, which had 
been chartered by Congress in the midst of the great war and 
were then in course of construction. He naturally put himself 
in communication with the leaders in the work and was present 
at the ceremonies attending the first completed division of 16^ 
miles, from Omaha to Papillon. On this occasion the General 
might well have held himself the pioneer in transcontinental 
railway promotion, as he had to his credit his California 
experience, when he was the first to conceive the plan, 
subscribed $10,000 to start it, and engineered and celebrated 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 365 

as vice-president the completion of 22^ miles of the same road 
eastward of Sacramento, which was the real beginning of the 
Central Pacific Railroad. 

The explorations of Dodge in 1853 naturally gave him pre- 
eminence in the preparatory work of survey. In 1S63-64 these 
were continued under the patronage of the General Government. 
In 1866 the country was systematically occupied, and every mile 
of digging, filling, bridging, tracking, and running was accom- 
plished within range of the musket. 

In order to facilitate operations on the main lines, at the sug- 
gestion of General Sherman the President (March 5, 1866) 
constituted the new Department of the Platte as a protection to 
the working parties, and subsequently the Department of Da- 
kota for the same purpose in connection with the Northern 
Pacific Railroad. 

In May, 1866, from his headquarters at St. Louis, General 
Sherman wrote to Dodge: 

I consent to yonr going to Omaha to begin what I trust will be the real 
beginning of the great road. 

This officer, after the capture of Atlanta, was assigned to 
a separate department, which brought the country between 
the Mississippi River and California under his command for 
operations against the Indians in 1865-66. During this time 
he discovered the most available defile through the Black Hills, 
8,236 feet high, which he named "Sherman Pass" in honor of 
his former chief. 

As far back as 1859 William T. Sherman, an obscure 
officer in the sense of fame, wrote to his brother, then in the 
lower House of Congress, pressing the necessity of a trans- 
continental railway, using these portentous words: 

It is a work of giants. Uncle Sam is the only giant I know who can or 
should grapple the subject. 



366 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

While in command of the vast savage region through which 
the road was progressing, at the muzzle of the musket, again 
writing to his brother, he adds force to his argument: 

So large a number of workmen distributed along the line will introduce 
enough whisky to kill off all the Indians within 300 miles of the road. 

General Sherman lived to see the realization of his earliest 
anticipations, not only in the completion of the Union and 
Central Pacific railroads, but of five transcontinental lines in 
operation, the last the Canadian Pacific. In commenting upon 
the latter, over which he traveled in 1886, he refers to his 
amazement when he discovered that its president was one of his 
own railroad experts, a major on the lines between Nashville and 
Atlanta, adding, humorously: " They now talk of making him 
a duke. He can hold his own with any duke I have thus far 
encountered. Anyhow, he acted like a prince to me." 

This field of development, an empire in dimensions, afforded 
the opportunity, in the mind of Sherman, of expansion for 
the 1,510,000 men on the muster rolls, of which 797,807 were 
able-bodied and present, of the late Union armies, man}- of 
whom chose to continue the erratic habits of the soldier. As 
they represented every vocation — professional, mechanical, and 
manual — it was a splendid element to man the advance of civili- 
zation westward. The Commonwealths which to-day comprise 
within their borders this vast area had their pioneers and much 
of their first population from these veterans of the civil war. 

ON A STRANGE MISSION. 
[1866.] 

In the fall of 1866, while in New Mexico, Sherman received a 
message to come to Washington. Upon arrival and report to 
General Grant he was informed of a desire of the President to 
see him. The President had ordered General Grant to escort 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 367 

the United States minister to the court of Juarez, the President- 
elect of Mexico. The country was still occupied by the French 
and the "Emperor" Maximilian. General Grant, who was 
opposed to the French invasion, denied the right of the President 
to order him on a diplomatic mission unattended by troops. 
Therefore he proposed to disobey the order and abide the eon- 
sequences; he also regarded it, in his own words, "asa scheme 
to get rid of him." 

As intermediary, Sherman had his celebrated interview with 
the President, informing him that General Grant would not go, 
cautioned him against a quarrel, and relieved the tension by 
consenting to go instead. 

"Certainly," answered the President, "if you will go that 
will answer perfectly." 

His assignment to that duty was by the President, dated 
October 30, 1866. On November 10 the envoy and the Gen- 
eral put to sea on the U. S. S. Susquehanna, arriving at Vera 
Cruz on the 29th. Bazaine was still in the City of Mexico 
with 28,000 French troops. Unable to find the Mexican 
republican government, the envoy and the General went in 
search of it up the coast. After many difficulties of naviga- 
tion and discovery, it finally turned up, it was supposed, at 
Monterey, where the minister was to be received in pomp. 
Thither he proceeded. The Susquehanna, with General Sher- 
man on board, sailed for New Orleans, arriving December 20, 
whence the General reported to General Grant, and received 
orders from Secretary Stanton to proceed to St. Louis. These 
orders were accompanied by an entire approval by the Presi- 
dent, Cabinet, and Department of his "proceedings in the 
special and delicate duties assigned him." 

The United States minister in person, bag and baggage, put 
in* an appearance at New Orleans two days later, ' ' generally 
disgusted, as he had not found President-elect Juarez " at all. 



368 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

A TROUBLESOME SITUATION. 
[1868.] 

Out of this experience, for reasons well understood at the 
time, grew the contentions which followed, in which the Presi- 
dent, General Grant, and the Secretary of War became 
involved. General Sherman "by Christmas was back in 
St. Louis," doing his best to keep out of the vortex, in 
which, however, he failed. 

In January, 186S, he was again in Washington as member 
of a board ordered to compile a code of articles of war and 
army regulations, with Sheridan and Auger as associates. In 
his efforts to cast oil on the troubled waters, Sherman sug- 
gested to the President the nomination of Gen. J. D. Cox, 
governor of Ohio, in place of Secretary Stanton. In the mean- 
time the latter had resumed possession of his office of Secretary. 

After the exchange of much correspondence, many orders, 
and a proportionate quota of ill feeling, Sherman, now at 
St. Louis, received a personal order of the President, Feb- 
ruary 19, 1868, as ") r our assignment to a new military division 
seems so objectionable, you will retain your present command." 

On the same day Adjt. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas was appointed 
to be Secretary of War ad interim, which eventuated in articles 
of impeachment and the trial of President Johnson before the 
Senate of the United States. General Sherman was a witness, 
but being restricted to facts set forth in the articles and not to 
opinions of the motives or intention of the accused he knew 
nothing. The result was the acquittal of the President, resig- 
nation of Mr. Stanton, and nomination and confirmation of 
General Schofield, Sherman's old commander of the Army of 
the Ohio, "Thus," says Sherman, "putting an end to what 
ought never to have happened at all." 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 369 

INDIAN PEACE COMMISSIONER. 

The President named Lieut. Gen. W. T. Sherman as first 
member of the Indian Peace (mixed) Commission, under act 
Juh' 20, 1867, which traveled much throughout the entire then 
Indian wilds, had much talk with chiefs of all sizes, and con- 
cluded on an Indian reservation and maintenance system apart 
from the two great railroads. Their efforts opened the way to 
the hastening progress, in the course of time and tide, in the 
course- of empire westward. 

On the 7th of November, 1868, General Grant was elected 
President of the United States. On the 15th and 16th of the 
following month the societies of the great armies of the West — 
Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio — met in joint reunion at 
Chicago. It was an affair, in brilliancy and numbers, worthy 
of the occasion. The President-elect, the earliest of their 
commanders, honored the affair with- his presence, as did 
upward of 2,000 officers, from military division, army, and 
corps commanders clown to second lieutenant file closers. 
Sherman says Grant, the "silent man," on these occurrences 
became very gossipy, being very fond of telling stories of early 
army life and the men and things whom he had seen. 

mounting a hobby. 

One day at Washington, before his inauguration, during a 
drive, the President (Grant) broke out: "Sherman, what 
special hobby do you intend to adopt?" Sherman, who was 
thinking upon something profound, nonplussed at the discon- 
nection of the inquiry, replied: " General, what do you mean?" 

"All men have their weaknesses, their vanities. It is wiser 
to choose one's own than to permit the newspapers to invent 
one less acceptable. I have chosen the horse. So when any- 
one tries to pump me I shall answer back in l horse. 



37° Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

"Well, that being your choice," said his great lieutenant, 
' ' I think I shall stick to the theater and balls. I have always 
enjoyed seeing young people happy and do not object to taking 
a hand or a step myself. ' ' 

Grant, laughing heartily, said: "I would like to see you at 
it. Right flank, file left, march, forward." 

"Yes," said Sherman, "but not backward. I used to be 
great on the waltz, but I have marched so much of late I am 
reduced to the ordinary cotillion." 

IX COMMAND OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 

[I860.] 

On the da}' of the inauguration of General Grant, General 
Sherman succeeded as General of the Array. By order of 
the President, on the day after, the method of business of the 
Department was explicitly defined. General Rawlins, former 
chief of staff to General Grant, was now Secretary of War. 
This order finally resulted, in the phrasing of Shermax, in 
"the old method in having a double, if not treble, headed 
machine," which was the reverse of what the President when 
General wanted. In the words attributed to Napoleon, but as 
old as Alexander, " Two armies with a single inefficient com- 
mander is better than one with two able ones." 

In the selection of a successor to the deceased Rawlins, 
General Sherman urgently pressed the name of Gen. Gren- 
ville M. Dodge, of Iowa, chief engineer of the Union Pacific 
Railioad. President Grant was most earnestly in his favor, 
knowing him as one of the most efficient, skillful, and bravest 
of the old Army of the Tennessee, and would have nominated 
him had he not been of greater importance to the completion of 
the Union Pacific Railroad, with which the Secretary of War 
necessarily had large transactions. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 371 

A TOUR ABROAD. 

On November 11, 1871, the General, as the guest of Rear- 
Admiral Alden, accompanied by his aids, Colonel Audeureid and 
Lieut. Frederick D. Grant, sailed on the frigate Wabash, flagship 
of the European Squadron. Landing at Gibraltar, he made the 
tour of Spain and France to Nice, where he rejoined the Wabash. 
Thence he visited coast and inland places of Italy, Messina, and 
Syracuse. Thence by steamer to Malta, Egypt, Constantinople, 
the Crimea, Tiflis, and by carriage, 600 miles, to Taganrog on 
the Sea of Azof. From thence he continued by rail to Moscow 
and St. Petersburg. After "seeing"' the interior of Europe, 
England, Scotland, and Ireland he sailed for home September 
7, arriving safe at Washington September 22, 1872. At every 
point he was met with military distinction, his wonderful 
marches and battles being well known and admired by the mili- 
tary heroes and students of the Old World. 

HEADQUARTERS TROUBLES. 

[1874-1S84.1 

As the Secretary of War (Belknap) was' exercising all the 
functions of commander in chief, the General determined to 
return to St. Louis, the city for which he always expressed a 
preference. 

On September 2, 1874, with the assent of the President and 

at the request of the General, the headquarters of the armies 

of the United States were established at St. Louis, Mo., to take 

effect in October, where he settled in his own house. As the 

General said: 

Though we went through with the forms of "command," I realized 
that it was a farce, and it did not need a prophet to foretell it would end 
in a tragedy. 



372 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

It so seemed in March, 1876, when the Belknap sutler sales 
came into the open. Upon the insistence of Judge Alphonso 
Taft, the new Secretary of War, by order of April 6, "the 
Headquarters of the Army ' ' were ' ' reestablished at Washington 
City." 

From 1876 to 1884, under Secretaries Taft, Cameron, Mc- 
Crary, Ramsey, and Lincoln, Sherman always spoke of his 
relations as most "intimate and friendly." 

RETIRES FROM ACTIVE DUTY. 
[1884.] 

On the 8th day of February, 1884,. he would reach the age 
of compulsory retirement. Being still within the limits of 
optional retirement, he determined to avail himself of a more 
clement season of the year, therefore fixing November 1, 1883, 
as the date proposing to resume his residence at St. Louis. 
Before thus closing his association with the activities of mili- 
tary life he made a tour of the continent, beginning at Buffalo 
on June 2 1 , going to the Pacific coast by the northern route 
and returning by the thirty-fifth parallel, ending at St. Louis 
September 30, 1883. 

He made arrangements so that his aids-de-camp, "who 
had been so faithful and true," should not suffer by his act. 
On the 27th day of October he submitted to the Secretary of 
War his last annual report, a most valuable treatise, embracing 
an account of the "Conception, progress, and completion of the 
four great transcontinental railways, for my agency in which," 
said the General, "I feel as much pride as for my share in 
any of the battles in which I took part." 

On November 1 , under orders, the command of the Army 
of the United States passed from Gen. W. T. Sherman to 
Lieut. Gen. P. PI. Sheridan. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 373 

On the 8th of February, 1884, the President, in a formal 
order, published to the Arm}-, appropriately announced the 
retirement ' ' without reduction in his current pa}- and allow- 
ances " of its " distinguished chief ' ' with ' ' mingled emotions 
of regret and gratitude." 

To which, on the next day, from St. Louis, he replied 

REFUSES A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. 

As the time for the national convention of 1884 approached, 
the name of General Sherman was in all mouths for the Repub- 
lican nomination. His great captain had been honored. Now 
it was his turn to receive this highest plaudit of his country- 
men. About a month before, Mr. Blaine wrote him urgently: 
' ' You must stand your hand. ' ' To which he replied : 

I will not in any event entertain or accept a nomination as the candi- 
date for President by the Chicago Republican convention nor any other 
convention, for reasons personal to myself. 

Other equally distinguished statesmen sent similar appeals 
and met with the same replies. 

To his son alone he admitted that at one time he felt as if he 
had better ' ' sacrifice himself, ' ' his sole reason being ' ' with a 
view to filling vacancies in the Supreme Court with men abso- 
lutely loyal to the principles for which the war was fought. ' ' 
He abandoned this purpose, as he said, "as the court was now 
composed in a greater part of men strongly imbued with 
national principles. ' ' 

His ambition had always been to live and die a soldier. 

In American political history he stands alone, a colossus in 
refusing to accept the highest civil office in the gift of the peo- 
ple when it was at his command for the acceptance. 

The overthrow of the Republican party in the election which 
followed caused a wave of feeling for the moment. 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 25 



374 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

STICK TO THE TEXT. 

In the celebrated controversy concerning "Buell's rescue of 
Grant's army at Shiloh," Sherman's friendship for Grant 
having been questioned upon an extract from one of his own 
letters, viz, "Had C. F. Smith lived, Grant would have disap- 
peared to history after Donelson," the General came back to 
the defense with his characteristic vigor. The entire letter 
having been produced, he having conceded the use of the 
words, it was shown that it should be taken with the context in 
order to get the strict sense of his meaning. This he explained 
more fully and vigorously at a gathering of a Grand Army of 
the Republic post at St. Louis in December after. 

SEEKS THE WHIRL OF THE METROPOLIS. 

The death of his great chief and of .so many of the army com- 
manders of the late war began to make the old hero feel lone- 
some in his worldly surroundings. 

In order to find relief in the- whirl of the great metropolis, 
not loving less his favorite St. Louis, after attendance upon the 
national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic in the 
fall of i<S86, at San Francisco, he made his home in New York. 

DEATH OF MRS. SHERMAN. 

[1888.] 

About two years after, on November 28, 1888, died the com- 
panion of his life, the mistress of his home, the mother of his 
children. As Ellen Boyle Ewing she was admired in Washing- 
ton as one of the brightest of the young ladies of the Senatorial 
and Cabinet circles. As the wife of William T. Sherman 
she was an element of strength in every vicissitude and advance- 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 375 

meut of her husband's career. But a few months before her 
death the General purchased the residence at 75 West Seventy - 
first street. 

The extreme tensity of grief was followed by long illness. 
His old enemy, asthma, also afflicted him more than ever. On 
one occasion, being found speechless in his office, he could but 
point to his throat. It was a narrow escape from the only 
enemy whom he could not dismay. 

AN INCIDENT IN WHICH MRS. SHERMAN FIGURED. 

After the recovery of General Dodge from his Atlanta wound 
it was proposed by General Grant he should cooperate with 
Sherman's march to the sea by a movement from Yicksburg 
to Mobile. A dispatch, however, intercepted him on the way, 
ordering him to report from St. Louis. There he was assigned 
to the command of the Department of the Missouri. Here he 
found his commander's wife and family, Mrs. Sherman doing 
all in her power to ameliorate the asperities of war. It was 
natural that Mrs. Sherman should write to her husband of the 
kindness she was receiving from the new department com- 
mander. Withgut circumlocution the General wrote to Dodge: 

You must not issue these orders and release these people simply because 
Mrs. Sherman requests you to do so. You must use your own judgment, 
and only where you know it is absolutely right. * * * I appreciate 
fully what you are doing and why you do it, but, my dear General, you 
know you must still cling to a soldier's duty. 

CLOSING SCENES. 

On February 8, the anniversary of his birth, there gathered 
around him at a home dinner the fast-contracting circle of his 
lieutenants of former days, among them Schofield, Howard, and 
Slocum. 

In April following the Union League Club, of New York, 



376 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

extended a reception in honor of the same birthday, at which 

Depew was the orator and the General the responding guest. 

His speech was one of the best of his post-prandial efforts, for 

which he was celebrated, eliciting for him as great applause as 

an orator as he had won as a soldier. 

The inherent kindliness of his nature broke forth on every 

page of his voluminous correspondence. In a letter to Gen. 

Joseph E. Johnston, but one month before the " final orders," 

he wrote: 

The cause which made you and me enemies in 1S61 is as dead as the 
rule of King George in 1776, and, like Humpty Dumpty, "all the King's 
horses and all the King's men can not bring it to life again." 

"A BAD NIGHT." 
[FEBRUARY 8, 1891.] 

The morning of Sunday, February 8, 1891, the General's 
seventy-first birthday, began with the foreboding remark that 
he had had ' ' a bad night. ' ' A medical consultation pronounced 
the cau.se an incipient attack of erysipelas. 

Before the close of the same day his condition was pronounced 
dangerous. Those of his family not at home were summoned. 
The appearance of his brother John, even in his semiconscious 
state, aroused his belief that all was not well, which, however, 
was set at rest by the Senator remarking that he had come to 
the city on business. Inquiries from the President, the civil, 
military, and naval arms of the Government and the people in 
every part of the land swelled the vast volume of interest in the 
welfare of the stricken warrior. After a brave fight, by Friday 
the direct cause was overcome, only to be followed by the per- 
sistent enemy of his health through life. On Saturday, at 
dawn, his chosen hour of battle, the presence of the dread foe 
seemed very near. The last rites of religion were administered. 
Fverv effort of medical art had failed to afford relief. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 377 

DEATH HIS ONLY CONQUEROR. 
[FEBRUARY 14, 1891.] 

At the hour of i o'clock and fifty minutes on the afternoon of 
that day, February 14, 1891, all that was mortal of William 
Tecumseh Sherman ceased to live. He died beloved by all 
the world. Those who had been his enemies in war were his 
friends in peace. The terror of his .sword won obedience to the 
Government, the Constitution, and the laws. The example of 
his life, while the Republic endures, will stand for the highest 
type of American citizenship. 

The greatness of his country is the measure of his fame. 

PUBLIC SORROW AND PRIVATE GRIEF. 

The death of William Tecumseh Sherman fell upon the 
country with the shock of a thunderbolt from a clear sky. 
Barely had his illness become known than swept over the land 
the sad tidings of his death. During his retirement, particularly 
since the death of General Grant, he stood like a giant among 
his countrymen. He had twice received the highest commenda- 
tion of a citizen of the United States— the thanks of Congress. 
In the great metropolis, the residence of his closing years, no 
event of a public character was rounded into full significance 
without him. 

The vast volume of grief which his death unloosed was not 
excessive. It hardly reached the summit of his fame. The 
President of the United States broke the melancholy intelli- 
gence to Congress in a special message. He announced it to 
the Secretary of War in an Executive order ' ' to cause the 
highest military honors to be paid to his memory," all flags to 
be dropped at half-mast on all public buildings until after the 
burial, public business to be suspended at Washington, in the 



378 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

city of interment, and at all places on the day of the funeral 
"where public expression is given" to the national sorrow. 
Telegrams of condolence poured in upon the family from ocean 
to ocean. The most urgent request was made by the President 
that the body should lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol. 
The same distinctive mark of obsequy was asked by the gov- 
ernor of Ohio, the State of his birth. 

A military guard from Governors Island, mounted at 8 o'clock 
on the evening of the day of his death, took all that was of this 
world over to the care of those who had been comrades in his 
greater share of life. Generals Howard and Slocum, com- 
manders of his famous right and left wings from Atlanta to 
the sea, were charged with the arrangement of the military 
pageant to their fallen chief. 

A SORROWING THRONG. 

The day of the funeral was Thursday, February 19. The 
occasion was one of impressive contrast. Nature looked on 
with the most radiant glow of heaven; man, overcome with 
sadness, shed the bitterest tears of earth. 

At 2 on the afternoon of that day of mourning, after a private 
service at the late residence, the casket closed upon mortality — 
the last earthly light and the gaze of dear ones of family and 
loved ones among friends. Amid the ruffles of drums, blare of 
trumpets, and voices of command, the casket containing the 
body of the dead chieftain was placed upon a caisson and, 
under escort of marines and engineers, artillery, and troops of 
the United States, the National Guard of New York, and mili- 
tary organizations, in column in reverse order, was conveyed 
to the place of departure at Jersey City. 

In the procession were nine major-generals, one of them 
among the foremost of his former foes, and two rear-admirals, 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 379 

serving as honorary pallbearers, followed by the family and 
friends, the President and Vice-President of the United States, 
ex- Presidents, committees of the United States Senate and 
House of Representatives, governor of the State of New York 
and mayor of the city, and deputations of the Loyal Legion, 
the Grand Army of the Republic, and other military 
organizations. 

The entire route of march for several miles through the 
metropolis was thronged with a vast multitude of sorrowing 
people. As a requiem the church bells of the great city tolled 
during the moving of the cortege. 

THE FUNERAL TRAIN. 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in honor of the dis- 
tinguished dead, had arranged a funeral train worthy of the 
last journey of one of earth's greatest heroes. The remains 
lay upon a catafalque in a composite car, deeply draped in 
black, arranged so that the casket might be viewed from either 
side by mourning spectators along the way. Six sergeant 
bearers and guard were in attendance, and, as special escort of 
honor, a detail from Lafayette Post of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. 

At forty-five minutes past 6 in the evening, to the knell of 
bells and other manifestations of sadness, the train departed 
westward with its precious burden. The governor and legisla- 
ture of Pennsylvania, having accompanied the remains to 
Harrisburg, here parted with due solemnity. The local troops 
of the National Guard drawn up at the station stood at 
present, drums ruffling, until the train passed. Similar honors 
were shown at Pittsburg, Columbus, and Indianapolis. At 
every town and village, and even by the roadside along the 
line of travel, almost half as long as the hero's great march, 
were grouped veterans with bared heads, waving a last salute. 



380 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

TAPS. 

At St. Louis the ceremonies of entombment were conducted 
in accordance with the late General's wishes. A military 
funeral, with Ransom Post of the Grand Arm)- of the Republic, 
of which he was a comrade, as personal escort, a detail of one 
regiment of infantry, two battalions of cavalry, and two bat- 
teries of artillery, United States, and several regiments of the 
National Guard of Missouri, and representatives of command - 
eries of the Loyal Legion, posts of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, and Sons of Veterans. 

The family and friends and representative mourners attended 
the remains to the grave, followed by the military escort. The 
burial rites of the Roman Catholic Church were celebrated by 
the eldest son of the deceased. A detachment of his old regi- 
ment, the Thirteenth U. S. Infantry, fired over his grave "three 
volleys," to mark his last battle with life. His bugler sounded 
' ' Taps," and then enduring fame and the crown of immortality. 

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN. 

To do justice to the varied qualities and characteristics of a 
noble man, a loyal citizen, and a distinguished soldier, embodied 
in the warrior statesman whom the day honors by commemo- 
ration in art, oratory, and literature, would be impossible in 
these narrow limits. To do so to a degree commensurate with 
his capabilities and services would necessitate going into the 
circumstances and events of the inception, prosecution, and 
consummation of the greatest life struggle of a nation in all 
time. 

In every phase of life and its activities he" was distinctive. 
He possessed a mind of extreme breadth and a range of intel- 
lectual vision beyond most other men, even themselves con- 
sidered masterful. 



S. Doe. 320—58-2. 




WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN, GENERAL U. S. A. 

Born at Lancaster, Ohio, February 8, 1820; died at New 
York City February 14, 1891. 
Faithful and Honorable. 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 381 

His military skill was of the highest order. His grasp of the 
exigencies of the moment, and prompt response, was one of the 
chief elements of his success. His statesman-like insight into 
the great issues involved, military and civil, from start to finish, 
are matters of record. In his campaigns he made few mistakes, 
and those were quickly rectified and turned to equal, if not 
better, account by himself. He was quick in initiative, vigilant, 
prompt to act, always on time, his plans working with machine- 
like accuracy, a good fighter, a master of strategy, skillful in 
tactical finesse, and in feint unrivaled. His career was 
ascendant until he reached the highest military rank in succes- 
sion to his chief. His theater of operations in person covered 
a larger area than other one army commander. 

Like General Grant, he was a man of few words, and fewer 
orders on the field. He simply pointed out what was to be 
done — his "objective" — and expected his commanders to do 
the rest. 

To the highest degree he had the confidence and devotion 
of his soldiers. In his Army of the Tennessee he was 
known as "The Old Tycoon," or, more affectionately, 
"Uncle Billy," one indicating the sentiment of absolute obe- 
dience to duty, the other that he held near his thoughts the 
welfare of his men. 

One of the most pathetic phases of his everyday retired 
arm}' life was the unbounded generosity he ever extended 
to the commanders, officers, and men who had served under 
him. He possessed that kindly faculty of making each, even 
to the humblest soldier, feel that it would have been em- 
barrassing to prosecute the civil war without his own par- 
ticular share in its marches and battles. 

His skill in composition, as shown in his official reports, 



382 Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 

letters, orders, and work of a purely literary character, 
marked him as possessed of the qualities of authorship of 
high repute. 

His writings, though thrown off amid the confusion of the 
march, the alarms of camp, the roar of battle, or the dis- 
tractions of headquarters, live as masterpieces of incisive 
thought, lucidity of expression, aggressivement of assertion, 
facility of argument, force of deduction, and precision of 
conviction. 

In action he had the full spirit of American "hustle." As 
a junior officer in the line of military duty he foresaw the 
foundation of empire on the western shores of the continent. 
He was the first to note the national significance of a trans- 
continental railway and the international prestige of an isth- 
mian canal. He was an expert financier, having successfully 
resisted the claws of wild-cat forays in San Francisco and 
eluded the baiting of bulls and bears in New York. He was 
cautious in venture, unerring in judgment, and fearless in 
execution. 

The variety of his gifts, natural and acquired, might be mul- 
tiplied to the limit of human ingenuity and find its correlative 
in action. 

His brusqueness of manner and bluntness of speech were an 
incongruous manifestation of a heart as tender as a woman's. 
The very twinkle of that keen eye put the stamp of gentleness 
itself upon his words. His wholesome humor again belied the 
bluntness of the soldier. While acting the tragedy, he lived 
the comedy side of life. His form of speech was forceful, but 
always refined. Though inflexible of purpose, he was consid- 
erate of the opinions of others, and always open to conviction. 
He was a devoted friend and a relentless, yet forgiving, enemy. 
His most persistent foe in the battles and skirmishes of his great 



Sherman: A Memorial Sketch. 383 

campaigns followed him in tears to the grave. In places of 
trust he was the personification of honor. It was said of him 
by a brother officer, when balancing his commissa^ accounts, 
" If Sherman does not soon find that cent, he'll resign or blow 
off his head. ' ' 

In his domestic life he was a loving husband, a devoted 
father, and steadfast friend. His wants were few and simple, 
always living contentedly within his means, ever abhorring obli- 
gations of money, and was not less sparing of obligations to 
friends. His most distinguishing characteristic was his mighty 
spirit of independence, and, as few others, he possessed every 
qualification to its support. 

In all respects William Tecumseh Sherman was an Amer- 
ican whose deeds and virtues for the purity of the State and 
home stand worthy of emulation by citizen or soldier. 



A MILITARY PASS." 







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"This document is one of three held by the writer from the commanders of the Army of the Ten- 
nessee. The first was issued by Major-General Grant, the second by Major-General Sherman. The 
one reproduced is given in remembrance of the illustrious successor to those foremost chieftains, who 
gave his life for his country on the desperate but victorious field of Atlanta. 

3S4 



SHERMAN IN THE (OFFICIAL) RECORD. 



The Record and Pension Office of the War Department gives 
the following statement of the military service of William T. 
Sherman, late of the United States Army, compiled from the 
records March 1 1 , 1 89 1 : 

He was a cadet at the United States Military Academy July 
1, 1836, to July 1, 1840, when he was graduated No. 6 in his 
class and appointed second lieutenant, Third Artillery, Jul}' 1, 
1840; first lieutenant November 30, 1841; and captain Septem- 
ber 27, 1850. 

He received the brevet of captain May 30, 1848, " for gallant 
and meritorious services in California during the war with 
Mexico." 

He joined his regiment October 20, 1841, and served with it 
in Florida to March 1, 1842; at Fort Morgan, Ala., to June 2, 
1842; at Fort Moultrie, S. C, to July 26, 1843; on leave to 
September 27, 1843; with company at Fort Moultrie, S. C, to 
April 13, 1846; on recruiting service at Pittsburg, Pa., to June 
25, 1846; at Fort Columbus, N. Y., to July 14, 1846; at sea, 
en route to California, to January 25, 1847; at Monterey, Cal., 
to May 31, 1847; assistant adjutant-general Department of Cali- 
fornia to February 27, 1849; aid-de-camp to Gen. P. F. Smith 
and assistant adjutant-general Pacific Division at San Francisco, 
Cal., to January 1, 1850; on leave from February 28, 1S50, to 
September 23, 1850; with battery at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 
to October 15, 1850; 011 commissary duty at St. Douis, Mo., 
and at New Orleans, Da., until he resigned, September 6, 1853. 

(385) 



386 The Official Record. 

Appointed colonel Thirteenth U. S. Infantry Ma)' 14, 1861; 
brigadier-general, U. S. Volunteers, May 17, 1861; major- 
general, U. S. Volunteers, May 1, 1862; brigadier- general, 
U. S. Army, July 4, 1863; major-general, U. S. Army, August 
12, 1864; Lieutenant-General U. S. Army July 25, 1866; and 
General U. S. Army March 4, 1869. 

He served during the rebellion of the seceding States, 1861 
to 1866: In defense of Washington, D. C, June 13 to July, 
1 861; in command of a brigade (Army of the Potomac) in the 
Manassas campaign, July 15 to 23, 1861, being engaged in the 
battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861; in defense of Washington, 
D. C, July 23 to August 28, 1861; in the Department of the 
Cumberland August 28 to November 9, 1861, succeeding Brig. 
Gen. Robert Anderson in command October 8, 1861, being 
engaged September to October, 1861, in the occupation of Mul- 
draugh Heights to cover Louisville, Ky., from a threatened 
attack of the rebel army under General Buckner; in the Depart- 
ment of the Missouri November 23, 1861, to February 14, 1862 
(on inspection duty November 23 to December 3, 1861), and in 
command of camp of instruction at Benton Barracks, St. Douis, 
Mo., December 23, 1861, to February 14, 1862; in command of 
the district of Paducah, Ky., February 17 to March 10, 1862, 
aiding in forwarding reenforcements and supplies to General 
Grant, then operating up the Tennessee River; in command of 
a division in the Tennessee and Mississippi campaign March to 
October, 1862, being engaged in the battle of Shiloh April 6 and 
7, 1862, where he was wounded (skirmish and destruction of 
Bear Creek Bridge April 14, 1862); advance upon and siege 
of Corinth April 15 to May 30, 1862, and movement on Mem- 
phis, which he occupied July 21, 1862; in command of the 
district of Memphis, Tenn., October 26 to December 20, 1862, 



The Official Record. 387 

being engaged November 26, 1862, in concert with General 
Grant, in driving the enemy, intrenched behind the Talla- 
hatchie, to Grenada, Miss. ; in command of the expedition to 
Vicksburg, Miss., being engaged in the attempt to carry the 
place by coup de main December 27 and 29, 1862; in com- 
mand of the Fifteenth Army Corps January 2, 1863, to 
October 25, 1863. 

In January, 1863, he was in command of the expedition to 
Arkansas Post, which was carried by assault January 11, 1S63; 
in the Vicksburg campaign, January to July, 1863, in command 
of the Fifteenth Army Corps, being engaged in the expedition 
by Steeles Bayou to the Yazoo, March, 1863; demonstration 
upon Haynes Bluff to hold the enemy about Vicksburg, April 
29 and 30, 1863; advance to Grand Gulf, May 1 to 6, 1863; 
skirmish at Fourteen-mile Creek, May 12, 1863; attack and 
capture of Jackson, Ma}' 14, 1863; march to Bridgeport and 
passage of Black River, May 16 to 18, 1863; seizing of Walnut 
Hills, May 18, 1863; assault of Vicksburg, May 19 and 22, 1863, 
and siege of the place May 22 till its unconditional surrender 
July 4, 1863; and operations against the relieving forces, result- 
ing in the capture of Jackson, Miss., July 16, 1863, with exten- 
sive destruction of railroads and forcing Gen. J. E. Johnston's 
arm} - beyond Brandon, Miss. 

He was in command of the expedition from the Big Black 
River, via Memphis, to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 22 to 
November, 15, 1863, being engaged in the action of Colliersville, 
Tenn., October 11, 1863; passage of the Tennessee River at 
Eastport, Ala., November r, 1863; and battle of Chattanooga, 
Tenn., November 23 to 25, 1863, where he commanded the left 
wing of General Grant's army in the attack of Missionary 
Ridge; and in the pursuit to Ringgold, Ga., November 25 to 
28, 1863. 



388 The Official Record. 

He commanded the expedition to Knoxville, Tenn. (com- 
menced November 28, 1S63), and, after compelling General 
Longstreet to raise the siege of the place December 1, 1863, he 
returned to Chattanooga December 18, 1863, and thence to 
Memphis and Vicksbnrg January, 1864; on winter march 
February 1 to 25, 1864, with 20,000 men, to Meridian, Miss., 
breaking up the railroads centering there and supplying the 
enemy in the southwest. 

He was in command of the Department and Army of the 
Tennessee October 25, 1863, to March 12, 1864, and of the 
Military Division of the Mississippi, composed of the depart- 
ments of the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee, March 12, 1864, 
to June 27, 1865; in organizing at his headquarters at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., an arm}- of 100,000 men for the spring campaign 
of 1864; in the invasion of Georgia, May 2 to December 21, 
1864; in command of the Armies of the Ohio, Cumberland, and 
Tennessee, being engaged in the battle of Dalton, May 14, 
1864; battle of Resaca, May 15, 1864; occupation of Rome, 
May 18, 1864; action of Cassville, May 19, 1864; battle of 
Dallas, May 25 and 28, 1864; movement on Kenesaw, with 
almost daily heavy engagements, Ma)' 28 to June 20, 1864; 
battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 20 to July 2, 1864; occupa- 
tion of Marietta, July 3, 1864; assault at Ruff's Station, July 
4, 1864; passage of the Chattahoochee, July 12 to 17, 1864; 
combats of Peach Tree Creek, July 19 to 21, 1864; battle of 
Atlanta, July 22, 1864; siege of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, to Sep- 
tember 2, 1864; repulse of rebel sorties from the place, July 
28 and August 6, 1864; battle of Jonesboro, August 31 to 
September 1, 1864; surrender of Atlanta September 2, and 
occupation of the place September 2 to November 15, 1864; 
pursuit of the enemy under General Hood into Alabama, with 
frequent engagements, September 28 to November 15, 1864; 



The Official Record. 389 

march to the sea, with numerous actions and skirmishes, from 
Atlanta to Savannah, November 16 to December, 13, 1864; 
storming and capture of Fort McAIister, Ga. , December, 13, 
1864; and surrender of Savannah December 2 1 , 1864. 

In the invasion of the Carolinas, from the "base" of the 
Savannah River, January 15 to April 6, 1865; in command of 
the Armies of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Georgia, being engaged 
in the march through Salkahatchie Swamps to South Carolina 
Railroad, February 1 and 6, 1865; occupation of Columbia, 
S. C, February 17, 1865; passage of the Catawba River, Feb- 
ruary 23 to 25, 1865; capture of Cheraw, March 3, 1865; cross- 
ing Pedee River, March 6 and 7, 1865; capture of Fayette- 
ville, X. C, March 12, 1865; passage of the Cape Fear River, 
North Carolina, March 13, 1865; battle of Averasboro, March 
16, 1865; battle of Bentonville, March 20 and 21, 1865; occu- 
pation of Goldsboro, N. C, March 22, 1865; capture of 
Raleigh, April 13, 1865; and surrender of the Confederate 
army under General J. E. Johnston at Durham Station, N. C, 
April 26, 1865, being one of the closing acts of the rebellion. 

He was on the march to Richmond, Va. , and Washington, 
D. C, April 28 to May 24, 1865. 

He commanded the Military Division of the Mississippi, 
embracing the departments of the Ohio, Missouri, and Arkan- 
sas, June 27, 1865, to August 11, 1866. 

Served as member of board to make recommendations for 
brevets to general officers March 14 to 24, 1866, and on special 
mission to Mexico November and December, 1866; in command 
of the Division of the Missouri August 11, 1866, to March 5, 
1869; as member of board to examine proposed system of Army 
Regulations December, 1867, to January, 1868; commanding 
the Armies of the United States March 8, 1869, to November 
1, 1883, when he was relieved, at his own request. 
S. Doc. 320, 58-2 26 



390 The Official Record. 

He was on tour of inspection of frontiers of Texas, Indian 
Territory, Kansas, and Nebraska, April 4 to June 20, 1S71; on 
professional duty in Europe November 10, 1871, to September 
17, 1872; as president of Howard court of inquiry March, 
1874; and on tour of inspection of posts on the Yellowstone 
River and in Montana Territory June 26 to October 22, 1877. 

He was retired from active service February 8, 1884, and 
died in New York City, N. Y., February 14, 1891. 

By joint resolution ' of Congress, February 19, 1864, the 
thanks of Congress were extended to Maj. Gen. W. T. Sher- 
man: 

To Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman and the officers and soldiers of the Army 
of the Tennessee for their gallant and arduous services in inarching to the 
relief of the Army of the Cumberland, and for their gallantry and heroism 
in the battle of Chattanooga, which contributed, in a great degree, to the 
success of our arms in that glorious victory. 

Then again by joint resolution dated January 10, 1865: 

To Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman and the officers and soldiers of his com- 
mand for their gallantry and good conduct in their late campaign from 
Chattanooga to Atlanta, and the triumphal march thence through Georgia 
to Savannah, terminating in the capture and occupation of that citv. 

J. C. Keltox, 
Adjutant General. 



SHERMAN IN BOOKS: A BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



A comprehensive view of the prominence of William 
Tecumseh Sherman in the literature of the American civil 
war may be had from the many volumes and magazine articles 
to be found on the shelves of the Library of Congress, treating 
distinctively of his share in the events of his time. 

The list, however, does not include the vast range of pub- 
lications in which the story of his deeds occupies a place, more 
or less conspicuous, as part of and necessary to the complete- 
ness of the history of the period. 

Nor does it take account of public documents except where 
they appear as independent works. 

This is the first grouping of all the literature relating to 
Sherman in the national collection. It ma}' serve as a guide 
to those desiring to make a study of the life, character, and 
achievements of this great American soldier-statesman. 

LIST OF WORKS IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RELATING TO GENERAL WILLIAM T. 
SHERMAN, INCLUDING HIS WRITINGS. 

Compiled by A. P. C Griffin, Chief Bibliographer. 

Sherman, William Tecumseh. General Sherman's official account of 
his great march through Georgia and the Carolinas, from his departure 
from Chattanooga to the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston and 
the Confederate forces under his command. To which is added Gen- 
eral Sherman's evidence before the Congressional committee on the 
conduct of the war; the animadversions of Secretary Stanton and 
General Halleck, with a defence of his proceedings, etc. 
New York: Bunce and Huntington, 1S65. 214 pp. 12 . 

Cover-title: The hero's own story. General Sherman's official account of 
his great march through Georgia and the Carolinas. 

(390 



39 2 A Bibliography of Sherman. 

Sherman, William Tecumseh. Major-General Sherman's reports. 
I. Campaign against Atlanta. II. Campaign against Savannah. III. 
Campaign through the Carolinas. IV. Johnston's truce and sur- 
render. V. Story of the march through Georgia. By a staff officer. 
Official copy — complete. 

New York: Beadle and company, 1865. 84 pp. 16 . (Beadle's 
dime series. ) 

Memoirs. By himself. 

New York: D. Appleton and company, 1875. 2 vols. 8°. 

Same. 2 vols, complete in 1. 

New York: D. Appleton and company, 1S76. 2 vols, in 1 8°. 

Same. 2d ed., revised and corrected. 

New York: D. Appleton and company, 1S86. 2 vols. Portrait. 
Maps. S°. 

Military orders of General William T. Sherman, 1861-65. 

Washington: Government printing office, 1869. (2). lxxix, 375 

pp. 8°. 

General Sherman in Russia. Extracts from the diary of General 

W. T. Sherman. 
( /;/ Century magazine, vol. 35, April, 1899, pp. 868-875. ) 

General Sherman's last speech. The old army. 

( /;/ Century magazine, vol. 20, June, 1891, pp. 189-192.) 

Delivered at the Press club dinner to H. M. Stanley, at Delmonico's, Jan- 
uary 31, and printed from manuscript dictated by General Sherman. 

General Sherman's opinion of General Grant. Letter dated Nov. 

18, 1879. 
1 In Century magazine, vol. 31, April, 1897, p. S21.) 

General Sherman's tour of Europe. In Spain, Italy, Egypt, and 

Turkey. Extracts from the diary of General W. T. Sherman. 
{In Century magazine, vol. 35, March, 1S99, pp. 729-740.) * 

A sheaf of Sherman letters. 1863-81. With comments hv James 

Grant Wilson. 
1 /// Independent, vol. 54, Jan. 23, 1902, pp. 213-215. ) 
Some letters by General W. T: Sherman, I*. S. A., chiefly relat- 
ing toShiloh. Aug. 1, 1864-Jan. 28, 1886. With comments by William 
R. Marshall. 

( /;/ Military order of the Loyal legion of the United States. Min- 
nesota commander}*, 4th series, pp. 605-614. St. Paul, 1S98. 8°.) 

Why General Sherman declined the nomination in 1S84. Being 

a letter hitherto unpublished, from General W. T. Sherman to I". S. 
Senator J. R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin. June 10, 1884. 

1 In North America review, vol. 171, April, 1900, pp. 243-245.) 



A Bibliography of Sherman. 393 

WRITINGS RELATING TO GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. 

Atkins, S. D. With Sherman's cavalry. 

{In Military order of the Loyal legion of the United States. Illi- 
nois commandery. Military essays, vol. 2, pp. 383 et seq. Chicago, 
1894. 8°.) 

Audenreid, J. C. General Sherman in Europe and the East. 

{In Harper's monthly magazine, vol. 57, July, 1873, pp. 225-342; 
Sept.. 1873, pp. 481-495; Oct., 1873, pp. 652-671.) 
Bolton, Sarah Knowles. General William Tecumseh Sherman. 

{In her Famous leaders among men, pp. 2S8-332. New York, 
1894. 12 .)' 

Bowman, Samuel M. Sherman and his campaigns: a military biog- 
raphy. By Col. S. M. Bowman and Lt.-Col. R. B. Irwin. 

New York: C. B. Richardson; Cincinnati: C. F. Vent & co., etc., 
1865. 512 pp. Portraits. Maps. 12 . 

Sherman and his campaigns: a military biography. 

New York: Richardson & company, 1868. 512 pp. Portraits. 
Maps. 8°. 

Boyd, James P. The life of General William T. Sherman. 

Philadelphia: Publishers' union, 1891. 608 pp. Plates. Por- 
traits. 12°. 

BoynTon, Henry Van Ness. Sherman's historical raid. The Memoirs 
in the light of the record. A review based upon compilations from 
the files of the War office. 

Cincinnati: Wilstach, Baldwin & co., 1S75. 272 pp. facsim. 8°. 
A criticism of Gen. Sherman's Memoirs. 
Bradley, George S. The star corps; or, Notes of an army chaplain, 
during Sherman's famous "march to the sea." 

Milwaukee: Jermain & Brightman, printers, 1865. xi, 13-304 pp. 
Portrait. 8°. 

Brockett, L. P. Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman. 

{In his Our great captains, pp. S7-162. New York, 1S65. 12 . ) 

William Tecumseh Sherman, General of the Army of the U. S. 

( /;/ his Men of our day, pp. 69-97. Philadelphia, 1872. 8°. ) 

Brown, Glenn. Competitive models for the statue to General Sherman. 
{In American architect and building news, vol. 51, Feb. 1, 1896, pp. 
53-54- ) 
BUELL, D. C. Major-General W. T. Sherman and the spring campaign of 
1862 in the West. 

(In Historical magazine, vol. 18, Aug., 1870, pp. 74-S2.) 



394 -^ Bibliography of Sherman. 

Byers, S. H. M. The march to the sea. 

i I)i North American review, vol. 145, .Sept., rS.87, pp. 235-245.) 
■ Some personal recollections of General Sherman. 

I In McClure's magazine, vol. 3, Aug., 1S94, pp. 212-224.) 

Chase, Edward. The memorial life of General William Tecumseh 
Sherman. With an introduction by General C. H. Howard. 

Chicago: R. S. Peale&co., 1891. (2), 55S pp. Illustrations. 8°. 

Chesney, Charles C. Sherman and Johnston and the Atlanta campaign. 
{In Fortnightly review, vol. 24, Nov. 1, 1875, pp. 611-624.) 

Chester, James. Great commanders. General Sherman. Review of 
Force's book. 

( /;/ Journal of the military service institution of the United States, 
vol. 25, July, "1899, pp. i49-!55- ) 

Conyngham, David Power. Sherman's march through the South. 
With sketches and incidents of the campaign. 

New York: Sheldon andco., 1865. 431 pp. 12 . 

Cox, Jacob D. Boynton's review of Sherman. Review. 

( /;/ Nation, vol. 21, Nov. 25, 1S75, pp. 342-343; Dec. 2, 1S75, pp. 
358-359- ) 

General Sherman. 

( />/ Nation, vol. 52, Feb. 19, 1S91, pp. 153-155.) 

General Sherman's memoirs. Review. 

( /;/ Nation, vol. 20, June 10, 1S75, pp. 397-399; June 17, 1875, pp. 
411-412. ) 

The Sherman-Johnston convention. 

{In Scribner's magazine, vol. 2S, Oct., 1900, pp. 4S9-505.) 

Curtis, George William. General Sherman. 

(/;/ his From the easy chair, 2d series, pp. 162-165. New York, 

1894. i6°.) 

Davis, JEFFERSON. President Davis in reply to General Sherman. 

{In Southern historical society papers, vol. 14, pp. 257-275. Rich- 
mond, 1886. 8°.) 

Davis, Theodore R. With Sherman in his army home. 
( /;/ Cosmopolitan, vol. 12, Dec, 1S91, pp. 165-205.) 
Dawley, T. R. The life of Wm. T. Sherman. 

New York: T. R. Dawley, 1864. 108 pp. 12 . 
Dodge, Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Personal Recollections of Gen. 
William T. Sherman, delivered at the 2Sth Annual Encampment, 
Department of Iowa, G. A. R., May 21, 1902, Des Moines, Iowa. 
40 pp. 8°. 



A Bibliography of Sherman. 395 

Dodge, Maj. Gen. Grenville M. The Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1S64. 
A paper read before the New York Commandery of the Military- 
Order of the Loyal Legion. 8°. 

Transcontinental Railways, with comments by Gen. Wm. T. 

Sherman, 21st Annual Reunion Society Army of the Tennessee, 
Toledo, Ohio, September 15, 1888. pp. 50. 8°. 

Forbes, Mrs. Ida R. Gen'l Wm. T. Sherman, his life and battles, or, 
From boyhood to his " March to the sea." 

New York: McLoughlin brothers, publishers, 1886. 157 pp. Illus- 
trations. 8°. 

Forbes, J. M. Recollections of Sherman and Porter. 

(In Nation, vol. 52, March 5, 1891, pp. 192-193.) 
Force, Manning Ferguson. General Sherman. 

New York: D. Appleton & co., 1899. ix, 353 pp. Plates. Por- 
traits. Facsimiles. Maps. 12 . ( Great commanders. ) 
Freeman, John C. The civil and military career of General William 
Tecumseh Sherman. 

1 In Military order of the Loyal legion of the United States. Wis- 
consin commandery, war papers, vol. 3, pp. 296-316. Milwaukee, 
1903. 8°.) 

General Sherman and his memoirs. 

[In International review, vol. 2, Nov., 1875, pp. 779-S17. ) 

General Sherman's civil career. 

{In Spectator, vol. 66, May 23, 1891, pp. 721-722.) 

CtLazier, Willard. William Tecumseh Sherman. 

(/;/ his Heroes of three wars, pp. 263-277. Philadelphia, 1884. 12 . ) 
(Vihrnsev, A. H. Sherman's great march. 

( /;/ Harper's monthly magazine, vol. 31, Oct., "1865, pp. 571-589.) 
Halstead, Mtrat. Recollections and letters of General Sherman. 

( /;/ Independent, vol. 51, June 15, 1899, pp. 1610-1613; J un e 22, 1899, 
pp. 1682-1685.) 

Hkadlev, P. C. Life and military career of Major-general William 
Tecumseh Sherman. 

New York: William H. Appleton, 1865. 368pp. Plates. Maps. 16 . 
Hedley, Fenwick Y. Marching through Georgia. Pen-pictures of 
every-day life in General Sherman's army from the beginning of the 
Atlanta campaign until the close of the war. 

Chicago: Donohue, Henneberry & co., 1890. 490 pp. Illustra- 
tions. Plates. Facsimiles. 12 . 
INGERSOLL, Robert Green. Robert G. Ingersoll, Gen. Wm. T. Sher- 
man, Chauncey M. Depew; their speeches at the Robson and Crane 
banquet, New York City, Nov. 21st, 1887. 
New York City, 1887. (4), 15 pp. 8°. 



396 A Bibliography of Sherman. 

Johnson, FLETCHER. Leben von Win. Tecumseh .Sherman, des verstor- 
benen pensionirten Generals cler Bundesarmee. Unter mithiilfe des 
Gen. -Majors O. O. Howard. 

Philadelphia: Die Edgewood publishing company, 1891. 608 pp. 
Plates. Portraits. Maps. 12 . 

Johnston, Joseph E. My negotiations with General Sherman. 

(In North American review, vol. 143, Aug., 1SS6, pp. 183-197. ) 

JONES, Charl,ES Colcock. General Sherman's march from Atlanta to 

the coast. An address delivered before the Confederate survivors' 

association, in Augusta, Georgia, at its sixth annual meeting, on 

memorial day, April 26, 18S4. Printed by order of the association. 

Augusta, Ga. : Chronicle printing establishment, 1S84. 19 pp. 8°. 

Jones, J. William. General Sherman's method of making war. 

(In Southern historical society papers, vol. 13, pp. 439-453. Rich- 
mond, 1885. 8°. 

KRUELL, GusTav. The portfolio of national portraits; eight portraits of 
historic Americans engraved on wood by Gustav Kruell. 

New York: R. H. Russell, 1S99. 9 numbers. 1., 8 1. 8 port. fol. 
Contents: William Lloyd Garrison; Robert E. Lee; James Russell Lowell; 
rlvsses S. Grant; Abraham Lincoln; W T illiam T. Sherman; Daniel Webster. 

LAMBERT, William H. Reply to the toast "Sherman's army," by Major 
Wm. H. Lambert at the banquet of the Society of the Army of the 
Cumberland, St. George's hall, Philadelphia, July 7th, 1S76. 
Philadelphia, 1876, (4) pp. 8°. 
LEE, S. D. Sherman's Meridian expedition and Sooy Smith's raid to 
West Point. A review. 

(/;/ Southern historical societ)' papers, vol. S, pp. 49-61. Rich- 
mond, 1880. S°.) 
Like and reminiscences of General Wm. T. Sherman. By dis- 
tinguished men of his time. 

Baltimore: R. H. Woodward co., 1891. xvi, 479 pp. Plates. Por- 
traits. 8°. 
LITTLE, W. C. The Sherman of early days. 

(/;/ Overland monthly, 11. s. vol. 17, April, 1891, pp. 358-361.) 

Long, John D. General Sherman. 

(/;/ his After-dinner and other speeches, pp. 107-109. Boston, 
189.5. S°.) 
Magdeburg, F. H. Life and services of General Wm. Tecumseh Sher- 
man. 

/;/ Military order of the Loyal legion of the United States. Wis- 
consin commandery, War papers, vol. 2, pp. 1-51. Milwaukee, 1896. 
S°. 



A Bibliography of Sherman. 397 

MARCY, Henry O. Sherman's campaign in the Carolinas. 

( In Military order of the Loyal legion of the United States. Mas- 
sachusetts commandery, pp. 331-34S. Boston, 1900. S°.) 

MoulTon, C. W. The review of General Sherman's Memoirs examined, 
chiefly in the light of its own evidence. 

Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & co., printers, 1S75. 87 pp. S°. 

NiCCOLLS, Samuel Jack. A tribute to General William Tecumseh Sher- 
man. Delivered at the public memorial service of Ransom post no. 
131, Department of Missouri, G. A. R. May 30th, 1891. 
St. Louis? 1S91? 16 pp. 8°. 

Nichols, George Ward. The story of the great march. From the 
diary of a staff officer. 

New York: Harper & brothers, 1865. xii, 13-394 pp. Illustrations. 
Plates. Folded map. 12 . 

Northrop, Henry Davenport. Life and deeds of General Sherman; 
including the story of his great march to the sea. 

Philadelphia: National pub. co., 1S91. x, 17-56S pp. Illustrations. 
Plates. Portraits. 12°. 

Oakey, Daniel. Marching through Georgia and the Carolinas. 
(In Century magazine, vol. 12, Oct., 1S87, pp. 917-927.) 

Palfrey, F. W. Memoirs of General William T. Sherman. Review. 
(In North American review, vol. 121, Oct., 1875, pp. 337-365.) 

PEPPER, GEORGE W. Personal recollections of Sherman's Campaigns, 
in Georgia and the Carolinas. 

Zanesville, Ohio: H. Dunne, 1866. 522 pp. 8°. 

Possible Presidents. General William Tecumseh Sherman. 

(In North American review, vol. 146, April, 1884, pp. 416-423.) 

Putney, Frank H. Incidents of Sherman's march through the Caro- 
linas. 

(In Military order of the Loyal legion of the United States, Wis- 
consin commander}-, War papers, vol. 3, pp. 381-3S7. Milwaukee, 
1903. 8°.) 

Reid, WhiTELAW. Lieutenant-General Wm. Tecumseh Sherman. 

(In his Ohio in the War, vol. 1, pp. 417-493. Columbus, 1893. 8°.) 

Rhodes, James Ford. Sherman's March to the Sea. 

(In American historical review, vol. 6, April, 1901, pp. 466-474.) 

Rollins, James Sidney. Speech at the Sherman banquet in St. Louis 
on the 25th of July, 1865. 

Printed by Wm. F. Switzler, Columbia, Missouri, 1865. 7 pp. 8°. 



398 -4 Bibliography of Sherman. 

Ropes, John C. 

{In Dwight, T. F., Critical sketches of some of the Federal and 
Confederate commanders, pp. 125-152. Boston, 1S95. 8°. Mass. his- 
torical society papers, vol. 10. | 

. Same. 

1 In Atlantic monthly, vol. 68, Aug., 1891, pp. 191-204.) 
Senour, F. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and his campaigns. 

Chicago: H. M. Sherwood, 1865, xiv, 15-477 pp. Port. 12 . 
Skwall, Frank. Site for the Sherman statue. 

( /// American architect and building news, vol. 51, Feb. 1, 1896, pp. 
5-2-53- I 
Sh.iNKS, W. F. G. Recollections of Sherman. 

( /// Harper's monthly magazine, vol. 30, Apr. 1S65, pp. 640-646. ) 
Shareand, GEORGE. Knapsack notes of General Sherman's grand 
campaign through the Empire State of the South. 

Springfield, 111. : Jackson & Bradford, printers, 1865. 68 pp. 8°. 
SHERMAN, John, and others. In commemoration of Gen. William 
Tecumseh Sherman. 

( /// Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. New 
York commandery. Personal Recollections of the War of the Rebel- 
lion, 2d series, pp. 30-63. New York, 1S97. 8°.) 

SHERMAN, Minnie Ewing. My father's letters. 

(///Cosmopolitan, vol. 12, Nov., 1891, pp. 64-69; Dec, 1S91, pp. 
187-194. | 

Sherman and his campaigns: A military biography, by S. M. Bow- 
man and R. B. Irwin. Review. 

( In North American review, vol. 102, Apr., 1S66, pp. 575-586.) 

SHERMAN memorial MEETING. Prayer by Rev. W. H. Roberts; 
memorial address by J. B. Foraker. 

(/// Grand Army of the Republic war papers, vol. 1, pp. 367-391. 
Cincinnati, 1S91. 8°.) 

Sherman's advance on Meridian. Reports by Gen. W. H. Jackson, 
Gen. Richardson, Col. P. B. Starke, Gen. Ross, Gen. Ferguson, Gen. 
Adams. 

(In Southern historical society papers, vol. 9, pp. 156-168; 332-344 
Richmond, 1881. 8°. ) 

Sherman's memoirs. 

(/// Galaxy, vol. 20, Sept., 1875, pp. 325-336; Oct., 1875, pp. 450- 

464.) 
Sl.OCUM, H. W. Sherman's march from Savannah to Bentonville. 
(/// Century magazine, vol. 12, Oct., 18S7, pp. 928-939. ) 



A Bibliography of Sherman. 399 

Smalley, E. V. General Sherman. 

( /;/ Century magazine, vol. 5, Jan., 1SS4, pp. 450-462.) 
Smith, Helen A. William Tecumseh Sherman. 

(/;/ her One hundred famous Americans, pp. 186-1S9. N. Y., 
1902. 8°.) 

Stanton, Benjamin. Letter of Lieut. Gov. Stanton, in reply to Hon. 
Thomas Ewing. 

Columbus: Printed at the office of the Ohio state journal, 1862. 25 
pp. 8°. 

Concerning Gen. Sherman and the battle of Shiloh. 
Stowe, Harriet BEECHER. William T. Sherman. 

( /;/ her Men of our times, pp. 423-444. Hartford, Conn., 1868. 8°. ) 
Thompson, J. P. Major-General William T. Sherman. 

{In Hours at home, vol. 2, Nov., 1865, pp. 11-22.) 
United States. Congress. Joint co)iimittee on the conduct of the war. 
Supplemental report of the joint committee on the conduct of the war, 
in two volumes. Supplemental to Senate report no. 142, 38th Con- 
gress, 2d session. 

Washington: Government printing office, 1866. 2 vols. Illustra- 
tions. Folded maps. 8°. 

These volumes, issued without document numbers, form v. 2-3 of Senate 
reports, 39th Congress, 1st sess. (nos. 1241-1242 of the Congressional series). 
Reports of W. T. Sherman, George H. Thomas, etc. 

. War Department. Reports of inspection made in the summer 

of 1S77 by Generals P. H. Sheridan and W. T. Sherman of countrv 
north of the Union Pacific railroad. 

Washington: Government printing office, 1878. no pp. Plates. 
Maps. 8°. 
WEEPER, Ella Fraser. Stranger than fiction. A true short story, told 
mainly in a series of unpublished letters by General Sherman. 
(/;/ McClure's magazine, vol. S, Apr., 1897, pp. 546-550.) 
Wilson, James Grant. General Sherman. 

{In his Sketches of illustrious soldiers, pp. 447-466. New York, 

1874. 12°. ) 

WoLSELEY, General I 'iscount. General Sherman. 

{In United service magazine, vol. 178, May, 1891, pp. 97-116; June, 
1891, pp. 193-216; July, 1891, pp. 289-309.) 



INDEX. 
SUBJECTS, PLACES, AND EVENTS. 



Abroad, tour, 371. 

Acworth, Ga., 261. 

Adairsville, Ga., 259. 

Address to the Army, 310. 

Aid-de-camp, 138, 385. 

Aiken, S. C, 332. 

Alabama, service in, 133. 

Alexandria, I.a. ,159, 246. 

Alexandria, Va., in camp near, 360. 

Allatoona, Ga., 261, 267, 273; defense, 304. 

Ancestral scenes in old England, 126. 

Andersonville, Ga., expedition, 2S6; relief 
of Union prisoners attempted, 302. 

Appropriations by Congress, 15, 17; ex- 
hibit of, 16, 17. 

Arkansas, department of, 249. 

Arkansas Post, Ark. .expedition, 217,218,387 

Armies of the United States, in command 

of. 370, 3S9- 

Army corps. (See Corps.) 

Army, enters the, 132. 

Army, resigns from. 157. 

Army. ( See name of. ) 

Arrangements of unveiling, 33. 

Articles of war, member of board, 36S. 

Artillery, Fourth United States Field Bat- 
tery, 49. 57- 

Assistant Adjutant-General, department, 
division, 3S5. 

Athens, Ala., 234, 235; captured by Forrest, 
301. 

Atlanta, Ga., 268, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275; battle 
of, 276-2S4, 286, 2S7, 288, 289; surrender 
and occupation of, 293, 294, 297, 312, 388! 
citizens of, to be removed, 297; a fortified 
city, 297. 

Atlanta's fall 011 Confederate politics, 302. 

Attorney at law, 157. 

Augusta, Ga., 317. 

Authorities, [25. 

Averasboro, N. C, 341,389. 

Award, committee of, the award, 20. 



Bad night, a, 376. 

Bald or Leggett's Hill, Ga., 275. 

Balls, a hobby, 370. 

Bamberg, S. C, 331. 

Banquet, joint, of the societies of the four 
grandarmies, 119; decorations, 119; menu, 
120; exercises, 121; songs, 121; addresses, 
121. 

Banker in California, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154. 

156, 157- 
Base established, secondary, at Allatoona, 

Ga., 262. 
Bas-reliefs, 30, 31, 32. 

Batteries, running the, at Vicksburg, 224. 
Battle, first pitched, 176. 
Battles by proclamation, 307. 
Bear Creek Bridge wounded, 386. 
Beaufort, S. C, 329. 
Beaufort Bridge, S. C, 331. 
Benediction, 99. 
Benton flag boat, 224.. 
Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., command, 

camp of instruction, 185, 386. 
Bentonville, N. C, battle, 342, 3S9. 
Bibliography of Sherman, 391. 
Big Black Bridge, Miss., 226, 227. 
Big Black River, Miss., 223, 231, 233; pas- 
sage of, 387; defends the line of the, 230; 
expedition from via Memphis to Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn., 387. 
Big Shanty, Ga., 261, 263. 
Birth, 129. 

Blackville, S. C, 331, 332. 
Board on Brevet- to General Officers, mem- 
ber of, 389. 
Bolton, Miss., 231. 
Books, Sherman in, 391. 
Boomer, A, 144. 
Boss in politics, 154. 
Bowling Green, Ky., 181. 
Boyhood and youth, 131. 
Boyn^on, Gen. H. V., 106. 

40I 



402 



Index. 



Brandon, Miss., 387. 

Bridgeport, Miss., 235, 3S7. 

Brigadier-general, U. S. Army, 232, 386. 

Brigadier-General of Volunteers, 174, 386. 

Broad River, S. C, 325, 329. 

Bronze work, subjects of, 22; dimensions, 22. 

Brooke, Gen. John R., 113. 

Bruinsburg, Miss., 225. 

Buckhead, Ca.. 274. 

Buell, Gen., 19S, 205, 251; controversy, 374. 

Bull Run, Va., battle, 174, 175, 176,386; first 

official report, 17s. 
Bulls Gap, Tenn., 343. 
Burnsville, Miss., 190, 191. 
Cabinet recommendations. 368. 
Cadet United States Military Academy, 385. 
California, arrives in, 137: departs for, 136; 

en route to, 385. 
California convention, 146. 
Called to order, ceremonies, 50. 
Called upon for a statement of views, 161. 
Cameron, Simon, Secretary, a visit from, 

1S2, E83, [84. 
Campaign, plan of, against Vicksburg pro- 
posed, 222. 
Campaign of isb4, 251, 388. 
Canal digging, 21S, 219, 221. 
Cape Fear River, N. C, 338; supplies, "339: 

passage of, 340. 389. 
Captain, brevet, 385. 
Captain and commissary, 14S, 149. 
Carolinas, invasion of, 324, 329. 3S9. 
Carriage regulations, 39. 
Cartersville, Ga., 305. 
Cassville, Ga.. 2511, 260; action at, 388. 
Catawba River, N. C, crossing, 336, 389. 
Cavalry movements, 244, 255, 263, 271, 272, 

273. 2S6. 288, 2S9, 2<io, 310, 349. 
Champion Hills, Miss., battle of, 226. 
Charleston. S. C, 329. 
Charlotte, N. C. 336. 
Chattahoochee River, Ga., 267, 26S, 269; 

crossing, 270, 273. 388. 
Chattanooga, Tenn., 235, 236, 237, 241, 243, 

301. 3S7- 

Chattanooga Creek, Tenn., 237, 239, 240. 

Cheraw, X. C, 336; an incident, 337; cap- 
ture of, 3*q. 

Chewalla, Tenn., 207. 

Chicamauga, Tenn., 234. 

Chickasaw, Tenn., 190. 

Chickasaw Bluffs (Yazoo City), Miss., 215, 
217. 

Christmas, a merry, 324. 

City Point, Va., 322, 345, 360. 



Civil employment offered, 149. 

Civil office declined, 170, 171. 

Closes banking in San Francisco, opens in 
New York, 155, 156. 

Closing scenes, 375. 

Closing up on Atlanta, 276. 

Closing up on Richmond, 348. 

Coast, in touch with, 339. 

Collierville, Tenn., action, 387. 

Colonel Thirteenth I". S. Infantry, 172,386. 

Columbia, S. C, 323; occupation of, 332; 
burning of, 335, 3S9. ' 

Columbus, Fort, N. Y,, 385. 

Columbus, Ky., meeting at, 213. 

Column, head of, forward. .17. 

Commemorative gayeties, 103. 

Commissary, 137, 148, [49; New Orleans, 
Iva.. 385; St. bonis, Mo.. 385. 

Commission, the Sherman Statue, 11. 

Committee, General Sherman Statue, 9. 

Committee of award, 20. 

Competition, conditions of. 17; entries. 18; 
rules of, 17. 

Conclusion, in, 99. 

Conditions of competition, 17. 

Confederate Army, surrender of, 3S9. 

Confers with the governors of Indiana and 
Illinois, 179. 

Confidence on the part of General Halleck, 
187. 

Congaree River, S. C, 332. 

Congress, 3, 11, 15, 16, 20, 25; resolution of 
thanks, 390. 

Congressional cooperation, 15. 

Conspiracy nipped, 222. 

Contents, 3. 

Continental escort, 42. 

Contract, execution of, 20; terms of, 21. 

Contributions, 17; private, 18. 

Convention, California, 146. 

Coosawahatchee River, S. C, 325. 

Corinth, Miss., movements against and 
siege. 204, 205; strategic importance, 203, 
329; Confederate attack, 209. 

Corps, Army. [A/so under Armies.) 
Fourth, 275, 301; Ninth, 231; Tenth, 342, 
,s4*; Thirteenth, 21S, 22S, 231: Fourteenth, 
275 292, 303, 308, 309, 312, 348, 361,364; Fif- 
teenth, 218, 221, 226, 22S, 231, 233, 235, 238, 
239, 242, 243, 277, 278, 2S0, 2S2, 283, 284, 292, 
3°8, 309, 319. 330, 348, 361, 364, 3S7; Six- 
teenth, 218, 235, 243, 267, 269, 277, 27S, 279, 
2S0, 2S1, 2S3, 2S4, 364; Seventeenth, 218, 219, 
227, 228, 229, 233 243, 244, 266, 271, 275, 277, 

278, 2S0, 28l, 282, 283, 284, 292, 3OI, 308, 309, 



Index. 



403 



Corps, Army— Continued. 

348, 361. 364; Twentieth, 275, 291, 293, 295, 
303, 308, 309, 337, 348, 361; Twenty-third, 

329. 342- 348. 
Correspondence respecting Atlanta, 297, 

29S, 299. 
Cost of statue, 22. 
Cotton question, 212, 326. 
Counter cavalry movements, 290. 
Couriers to the coast, 339. 
Covington, Ga., 313. 
Cowles, Capt. Win. S., 41, 42. 
Coxs Bridge, N. C, 343. 
Cross Keys, Ga., 273. 

Cumberland, Army of, 235; Department of. 
249, 253, 254, 255, 26S, 284 2S7, 2 4 4; com- 
mand of, 181; relieved. 185, 386; trans- 
ferred to, 178,179; Society of the Army of 
the, 41; reunion, 106, 107, 120; organiza- 
tion, 106. 
Dallas, Ga., battle of, 260, 261, 388. 
Dalton, Ga., battle. 58S. 
Davis, Jefferson, flight of, 359. 
Death his only conqueror, 377 
Death's awakening, 131. 
Decatur, Ala., 274. 
Declines command of arsenal at St. Louis, 

170, 171. 
Decorations, flag, 34. 
Dedication, the, 49. 
Defeat in the East; successes in the West, 

20S. 
Defenses, field, 266. 
Department and Army of the Tennessee, 

in command of, 235. 
Departments, military— Arkansas, 249; 
Cumberland, 235, 241); Ohio, 235, 249; 
Tennessee, 235, 249. 
Departs with honor, 165, 166. 
Dick Robinson, Ky., camp, 1S1. 
Dimensions of bronze figures, 22. 
Diplomatic mission, a, 366. 
Dispatch of March 3, 355. 
Dispatches to the North, 340. 
Diversion not in the articles of war, 302. 
Division, command of.in theTennesseeand 
Mississippi campaign, 190, 386; military, 
of the Mississippi, in command, 3S8. 
Dodge, Maj.-Gen. G. M., 9, 11, 13, 17. 19. 2 °- 
21, 23, 24, 36, 41, 49, 50, 53, 57, 61, 08. 79, S3, 
91, 99, 104, 105, no, 235, 236, 237, 239, 243, 
250, 257, 269, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 284, 
285, 291, 305, 370. 
Durham Station, N. C, surrender of Gen- 
eral Johnston and the Confederate Army 
35°, 358, 38-. 



East Point, Ga., 2S7, 289. 

Eastport, Ala., 190, 235, 3S7. 

Edisto Crossing, S.C., 332. 

Education, 131. 

Elizabethtown, Ky., camp at, 181. 

Embarrassing situation, an, 160, 161, 162, 

163, 164, 165, 166, 167. 
Emblems, 30, 31, 32. 
Enemy's strength in Georgia, 255. 
Entries for competition, 18. 
Escort (Continental 1. 42. 
Etiquette, a question of, 346. 
Europe, tour of, professional duty, 39°- 
Ewing, Hon. Thomas, 131. 
Exercises, order of, 49. 
Exhibit, model, 19. 

Expedition against Jackson, Miss., 231. 
False hopes, 292. 

Family antecedents in New England, 127. 
Farewell, 363, 364. 

Fayetteville, N. C, capture, 336, 339, 3S9. 
Feint on Haynes Bluff, Miss., 225. 
Field defenses, 265. 
Field orders for the great march, 310. 
Field orders and farewell, 363. 
Fifteenth Army Corps, in command of, 218. 
Figures, 30, 31, 32. 
Final dispatches, 30s. 
Final judgment on selected models, 19. 
Final movements, 348. 
Finale of rebellion, 361, 362, 363. 
Finances, 16. 

Flag, stands boldly by, 163. 
Flag decorations, 34. 
Fleet, rescued, 220. 
Floral display, 35. 
Florence, Ala., 235. 
Florida, service in, 133. 
Foraging on the march, 314. 
Forebodings treated with derision, 168. 
Forging ahead, 217. 
Fortress Monroe, Va., 360. 
Forty rounds in the cartridge box and 

twenty in the pocket, 23S. 
Foundation of statue, 21. 
Fourteen Mile Creek, Miss., 3s;. 
Fourth of July celebration, 267. 
Frantic opposition on paper, 315. 
Friars Point, Miss., 215. 
Friendship between Grant and Sherman 

begun, 189. 
Funds, raising of, 14. 
Funeral, 37S, 379. 
Funeral train, 379. 

Gaylesburg, Ga., begins plans for the 
march, 307. 



404 



Index. 



General, U. S. Army, 386. 

Georgia, invasion of, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 

257, 25S, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264-38S; 

army of, 348; early service in, 133. 
Germans loyal, 169. 
Gold, discovery of, 141; official herald of, 

143- 
Gold fake, Jefferson Davis, 359. 
Goldshoro, X. C, the objective, 331, 339, 340, 

341; end of great march, 342; occupation, 

3S9; comments on, 342. 
Gordon, Ga„ 315. 

Grand Army of the Republic, 124. 
Grand Gulf, Miss., 225; advance, 387. 
Grand Junction, Tenn., 207. 
Grant, Gen. U. S., 180, 187, 188, 1S9, 192, 193, 

196, 197, 201. 203, 204, 205, 206, 208, 209, 213, 

214, 215, 216, 2l8, 219, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 
226, 227, 22S, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 
236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 242, 246, 247, 248, 249, 
250, 25I, 252, 256, 287, 296, 301, 305, 306. 307, 
30S, 32I, 322, 323, 324, 326, 340, 34I, 343, 344, 

345. 346. 347. 34S. 349. 35°. 353. 354. 355. 356, 
357. 358. 361, 3 6 &. 367. 36S, 369, 370. 

Grant and Sherman, a turning point, 206. 

Graysville, Ga., 242. 

Greensboro, N. C, 358. 

Grenada, Miss., 214, 387. 

Grosvenor, Gen. Charles H., address, 85. 

Guests, the, 40, seating of the, 42. 

Halleck. General, 182, 185, 186, 1S7, iSS, 189, 
190, 202, 204, 205, 207, 208, 234, 295, 297, 303, 

307. 323- 
Hanging Rock, N. C, 336. 
Hankinsons Ferry. Miss., 225. 
Hard Times, La. 225. 
Hardeeville. S. C, 325. 
Haynes Bluff, .Miss., 215, 221, 223, 225, 227, 

3S7- 

Head of column, forward, 47. 

Headquarters 146; troubles, 371. 

Helena, Ark.. 214. 

" Hell of a fix," 169. 

Henderson, Gen. David B., oration, 69. 

Henderson, Gen. Thomas J., address, 93. 

Hillsboro, N. C, 350. 

Hilton Head, S. C, 321. 

Hindman Ark., Fort, 217; carries by 
storm. 217. 

Hobhies, 369. 

Holly Springs, Miss., 20S, 209, 214, 216. 

Home building in the western wilds, 129. 

Honors, 57. 

Hood, pursuit of, into Alabama, with fre- 
quent engagements, 303, 304, 388. 



Horn, sailing round the, 136. 

Horses, Grant, 369. 

Hospitality, local, 116. 

Howard, Gen. O. O., 309, 313, 320, 322. 342, 
375. 37S; court of inquiry, 390. 

Hurlbut, General, 235. 

Hurry order for Chickamauga, 234. 

Illness, 376. 

Illustrations, list of, 7. 

Indian peace commissioner, 369. 

"Insane" incident, 183, 1S5. 

Insanity canards deprecated by General 
Halleck. 1S6; changed front, iSS. 

Inscriptions, 30. 31, 32. 

Inspection duty at Washington, 172, 173: 
on frontiers, 390. 

Instruction, camp of, at Benton Barracks, 
in temporary charge, 1S6. 

Introduction. 13. 

Introductory address by General Dodge, 53. 

Invitation, to sculptors, 17; to unveiling, 36. 

Invocation, the, 50. 

Island No. 10. Ky., Mississippi River, 205. 
207. 

Iuka, Miss., 235. 

Jackson, Miss., 226; capture, 3S7; pursuit 
of relieving force, 387. 

Jackson. Tenn., 209, 213. 

Jacksonville, Fla.. 302. 

Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 585. 

Johnson, President, 366, 367, 368. 

Johnston. Gen. Joseph E., 226, 230, 231, 252, 
255. 258. 259. 261. 268, 273, 274. 34-. 350, 351, 
352. 353. 354. 357. 358. 376; surrender of, 
correspondence, 350; meeting, 350; terms, 
350; conference, 351; original terms 
signed, 352; Sherman's comments, 352; 
outline of original terms, 353: disap- 
proval, 354; arrival of Grant at Sherman's 
headquarters, 354; notification ot John- 
ston, 354; unconditional surrender, 35S; 
new terms, 358; at funeral, 368. 

Jonesboro, Ga., battle of, 292, 3S8. 

Keim, De B. Randolph, 125, 153, 3S4. 

Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., movement on, 
261, 263, 264; battle of, 266, 267, 304, 3S8. 

Kentucky, affairs in, 17S, 179, 180, 181, 182, 
183, 184, 1S5; invasion of, resisted, 1S0. 

Kindness, acts of, to old acquaintance, 333. 
334. 335. 336- 

Kingston, Ga., 239, 30S; an address to the 
army, 310. 

Kit Carson, 142. 

Knoxville, Tenn., relief of, 242, 343, 3SS. 

Lafayette, Tenn., 207, 208. 



Index. 



405 



Lagrange, Miss., 207, 213. 

Lake Providence, La., 219, 222. 

Laurel, 339. 

Laurels, resting on their, 299. 

Leave, on, 385. 

" Leave " for twenty days, 186. 

Leaves the Army, 157. 

Leggett's Hill, near Atlanta, Ga., 275. 

Legislature on the wing, 315- 

Lieutenant, first, 385; second, 385. 

Lieutenant-General, U. S. Army, 3S6. 

Lincoln, President, 169, 173. 177, 178. 216,294, 

345- 346, 347, 35°, 35i. 352, 355- 
Lithonia, Ga., 313- 

Logan, Gen. John A., 282, 324. 33°, 3^4- 
Lone Mountain, Ga., 273. 
Long Bridge, D. C, 361. 
Lookout Mountain, Tenn., 236, 237. 
Losses: Bull Run, 176; Shiloh, 200, 201; 
Chickasaw Bluffs, 215: Arkansaw Post, 
217; operations around Vicksburg, 231; 
Chattanooga, 241: Georgia, May, 1864, 262; 
Kenesaw, 266; June 10 to July 3, 268; bat- 
tle of Atlanta, 283; Atlanta campaign, 
300; Allatoona, 304; march to the sea, 
total, 326, 341. 
Lost advantages, 202, 205. 
Lost Mountain, Ga., 263, 264. 
Louisiana, secession of, 164; seminary of 

learning, 159- 
Louisville, Ga., 319. 
Louisville, Ky., protection of, 386; closing 

scenes, 364. 
Lynchburg, Va., 343- 

McAlister, Fort, Ga., capture, 319, 320, 3§9- 
McPherson, Gen. J. B., 191, 226, 228, 232, 
235, 243, 249, 251, 252, 253, 257, 261, 271, 273, 
274, 276, 277, 278, 279, 2S0, 313. 
Macon, Ga., expedition, 2S6. 
Madison, Ga., 310. 
Mail, first overland, 141. 
Mail steamer via Panama, 145. 
Major-General, U. S. Army, 290, 386. 
Major-general of militia, 154. 
" Man of sanguine mind " wanted, 1S5. 
Major-general of volunteers, 203, 3S6. 
Manassas, Va., campaign, 386. 
Manchester, Va., 360. 
March, longest, in history, 342; comments 

342. 
March to Richmond, Va.,and Washington 

D. C, 3§9- 
March to the sea, suggested, 296: author 
ized, 306; concentrating for, 307, 308; be 
gins, 312, 389; origin of the song, 333. 
vS. Doc. 320, 5S-2 27 



Marietta, Ga., 260, 267, 273, 388. 

Marine Band, United States, 43, 48, 49, 57, 

100, 117. 
Marriage, 148. 

Measurements of monument, 24. 
Medallions, 31. 32. 
Memorial, inception of, 13. 
Memphis, Tenn., movement on, and occu- 
pation, 207, 234, 386; in command of dis- 
trict of, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 386, 388. 
Meridian, Miss., expedition to, 243, 244, 245, 

246, 250, 388. 
Metropolis, seeks whirl, 374. 
Mexican war, 135. 
Mexico, special mission to, 367. 389; peace 

with, 144. 
Military base, Memphis as, 213. 
Military college, superintendent of, 159. 
Milledgeville, Ga., the first objective, 312; 

march to, 313; occupied, 315. 
Millen, Ga., 316,317, 318. 
Millikens Bend, La., 21S, 222. 
Mines, visits the gold, 143. 
Minute Men, 42, 100. 
Missionary Ridge, Ga,, 236, 237, 239; battle 

of, 240, 241, 387. 
Mississippi, army of, 188, 202, 205, 207; mili- 
tary division of the, in command (De- 
partments of Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas), 

.249, 389- 
Mississippi River opened, 231. 
Missouri, Department of, inspection duty, 

386; division of, in command, 389. 
Mobilizing troops for Grant, 1S8, 189. 
Model exhibit, acceptance, 19. 
Models, sculptors entering, 18. 
Monterey, Cat., 191, 3§5- 
Monterey, Miss., 191. 
Monument, Sherman, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17-24, 25, 

I 7 , IS, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 

31, 32, 57 (further details indexed); the 
story of, 27. 

Morgan, Fort, Ala., 3S5. 

Moscow, Tenn., 207. 

Moultrie, Fort, S. C, 385. 

Movement into the Carolinas, 324. 

Muldraughs Hill, Ky., occupation of, 180, 
181, 386. 

Murder not war, 318. 

Music at unveiling, 57. 

"My Country 'tis of Thee," 124. 

Napoleon, Ark., 217, 21S. 

Nashville, Tenn., Headquarters, 388; meet- 
ing of generals, 250. 

National Sculpture Society, 19, 20, 21. 



406 



Index. 



Negotiations which came to naught, 300. 

Negro question, 326; an untimely interfer- 
ence, 327, 328, 329. 

Negro's idea of war, 317. 

Neuse River, N. C, 343. 

New Hope Church, Ga., 260, 261. 

New Orleans, La., 207, 246. 

New York, service in, 133. 

New York banker, 156. 

Nolin Creek, Ky., 181. 

Objective gained, 341. 

Offensive, Sherman on the, 238. 

Ogeechee River, Ga , 318, 319, 321. 

Ohio, Army of the, 18S, 205, 235 (Depart- 
ment), 249, 253, 254, 255, 268, 285, 2S7, 294; 
Army of, at Decature, 294; Society of the 
Army of , 38,41; reunion, 115,120; organi- 
zation, 115; commemorative exercises, 

"5- 

Old Tycoon, 381. 

Oliver, Robert Shaw, 36, 49. 

Oratory, Sherman in, 61. 

Orchard Knoll, Tenn.. 241. 

Order, called to, 50. 

Order of exercises, 49. 

Ordered to the front, 190. 

Organization of command, Bull Run, 174; 
Shiloh, 194; river campaign against Vicks- 
burg, 215; Army of the Tennessee, 235; 
invasion of Georgia, 253, 254, 255; march 
to the sea, 309; campaign in the Caro- 
linas, 330; final movements, 348. 

Osabaw Sound, Ga., 319. 

Out of business, 157, 167. 

Outfit, the general's field, 314. 

Overland mail, first, 142. 

Owl Creek, Tenn., 191. 

Oxford, Miss., 214, 215. 

Pacific railways, 364, 365, 366. 

Paducah, Ky., 190, 386; in command at, 187, 
188, 190. 

Pageant of war, a, 43. 

Paices Ferry, Ga., 268. 

Panama steamer, 145. 

Parade, the, 45; formation, 45. 

Parade rest, 48. 

Pass, a military, 384. 

Payments for statue, 22; how to be made, 23. 

Pea Ridge (Monterey), Tenn., 191. 

Peace with Mexico, 144. 

Peace duties, 364. 

Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 274; combats of, 
275, 388. 

Pedee River, S. C, 336; crossing, 338, 339, 
3«9- 



Pedestal, appropriated for, 16, 22. 

Pemberton, 225, 226. 

Pennsylvania Railroad Company, funeral 

train, 379. 
Pickering, Tenn., Fort, 210, 213. 
Pillow, Tenn., Fort, 207. 
Pine Mountain, Ga., 263,264. 
Pittsburg, Pa., 3S5. 

Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., 190, 191, 192. 
Plans discussed, 323. 
Plaza, Sherman, 25. 
Pocotaligo, S. C. 325. 
Police arrangements, 38. 
Politics in, 152, 329. 
Pooler Station, Ga., 31S. 
Port Gibson, Miss., 225. 
Port Hudson, Miss., 231. 
Port Royal Harbor, S.C.,321. 
Porter, Admiral D., fleet, 214, 219, 220, 221, 

224, 246, 355. 
Potomac, Army, command brigade, 386; 

Department of the Grand Army of the 

Republic, 43; Society of the Army of the, 

38, 41; reunion. 112; organization, 113; 

commemorative ceremonies, 113; local 

hospitality, 116, 120. 
President, the, 33, 34, 40, 42, 47, 49, 61, 63; 

address, 99, 100, 297; escort, 42; arrival 

of, 42. 
President of a street railroad, 168, 169. 
Presidential nomination refused, 373. 
Presidential pleasantries. 287. 
Print, resolution to, 2. 
Prisoners of war, 358. 
Procession, route of, 47, 376. 
Prophetic view of the situation, 182, 183; an 

"insane request," 1S4. 
Public apathy, 16S. 
Public sorrow and private grief. 377. 
Quartermaster, 137. 
Raiding communications, 290. 
Railroad building, feats of, 305. 
Railway surveys, 147. 
Raleigh, N. C, 323, 349, 359, 389. 
Raymond, Miss., battle of, 226. 
Reception committee, 42, 101. 
Reception in honor of the societies of the 

four grand armies, 116. 
Reconnoissance above Pittsburg Landing, 

190. 
Reconstruction, solicited views upon, 232. 
Record, official, of services, 3S5; in the 

Johnston negotiations, 356. 
Recruiting duty, 135, 385. 
Red River, La., Expedition, 246, 247. 



Index. 



407 



Regulations, Army, member of Board on, 

3§9- 
Relieved of command of the armies at his 

own request, 3S9. 
Reminiscence, a, 333. 
Reports to Washington on real conditions, 

185. 
Republic, Grand Army of the, 14, 43, 100. 
Resaca, Ga.,258; battle, 38S; defense of, 305. 
Retaliatory measures, 306. 
Retired from active service, 385, 390. 
Retires from the Army, 372. 
Reunions, 103. 

Review, in, 47; the grand, 361, 362, 363. 
Richmond, Va., menaced, 343; base against, 

won; closing on, 348; fall of, 349; march 

to, 359> 3 6 °- 3&9- 
Ringgold, Ga., 257; pursuit to, 387. 
River campaign against Vicksburg, 214, 

215, 216. 
Road building toward the Pacific, 15S. 
Rocky Mount, 'N. C, 336. 
Rohl-Smith, Carl, sketch of, 26; model ac- 
cepted, 20. 
Rohl-Smith, Mrs. Carl, 27. 
Rome, Ga., 259, 301, 305, 388. 
Roosevelt, Theodore, the President; a 

sentiment on Sherman, 125: President, 

address of, 63. 
Root, Elihu, Secretary of War, 11. 
Roswell, Ga., 269; bridge building, 269. 
Route of march, 47. 
Ruffs Station, Ga., assault on, 267,388. 
Ruler of a city, 20S, 209, 210, 211. 
Ruler of a State, 294; master of four, 294. 
Rules of competition, 17. 
Rush, not in tactics, 153. 
Sailing round the Horn, 136.' 
Saint l,ouis, Mo., a visit to, 134; banquet, 

364; remains at, 368. 
Salkahatchie swamps, S. C, march in, 389. 
Salute at unveiling, 57. 
San Francisco, Cal., 144; on a prospecting 

tour, 149. 
Sanderville, Ga., 316. 

Satterlee, Rt. Rev. H. V., benediction, 50. 
Savannah, Ga., surrender, 3S9; on the road 

to, 317, 318, 319; siege, 322; abandoned by 

the enemy, 323, 324, 325; farewell to, 329. 
Savannah, Tenn., 190. 
Scene of later triumphs, visiting, 135. 
Schofield, Gen. J. M., 115, 249, 252, 253, 258, 

273, 274, 3 06 . 34L 342, 360, 375- 
Scott, Gen. Winfield, 172, 173. 



Sculptor, death of, 24; flowers and speeches 
at grave of, 55; sketch of, 26. 

Sculptors, invitation to, 17; entering com- 
petitive models, 18. 

Sculpture society, national, 19, 20, 21. 

Sea, march to, 326. 

Secession, views concerning, 163. 

Second Corps, Army of the Mississippi, in 
command of, 216. 

Sedalia, Mo., inspects camp at, 186. 

Self-vindication, 201. 

Seminary of learning and military acad- 
emy opens, 160. 

Services, official record of, 385. 

Sherman, William Tecumseh, life and 
character, 380; statue committee, 9; a 
memorial sketch, 125; ancestral scenes 
in Old England, 126; family antecedents 
in New England, 127; home building in 
western wilds, birth of William Tecum- 
seh Sherman, 129; death's awakening, 
a foster father, boyhood and youth, 131; 
enters West Point and the Army, 132; 
service in New York, Florida, Alabama, 
South Carolina, and Georgia, 133; visits 
scenes of later triumphs, 135; recruiting, 
Mexican war, 135; sailing round the 
Horn, 136; California, quartermaster, 
commissary, aid, adjutant-general, 137; 
discovery of gold, first overland mail, 
141; official herald of gold, 143; peace 
with Mexico — a boomer, 144; boards first 
"Panama" steamer, surveyor, California 
convention, first move for a transconti- 
nental railroad, 145; off for Washington, 
meets President Taylor, marriage, 147; 
captain and commissars', two shipwrecks 
in one day, 148; leaves the Army, banker, 
151; a rush not in tactics, major-general 
of militia, 153; Sherman in politics, 154; 
closes in San Francisco, opens in Wall 
street, 155; attorney at law, 157; superin- 
tendent of a military college, 159; an 
embarrasing situation, 160; stands boldly 
for the flag, 163; departs with honor, 165; 
president of a street railway, forebod- 
ings met with derision, 168; civil office 
declined, tenders his services, 170; colo- 
nel Thirteenth Infantry, U. S. Army, 172; 
brigadier-general, Bull run, 174; a visit 
by President Lincoln, 177; transferred to 
the Department of the Cumberland, 178; 
in command of the Department of the 
Cumberland, 1S1; an "insane" incident. 



408 



Index. 



Sherman, William Tecumseh" — Continued. 
183; inspection duty, in command at Ben- 
ton barracks, 1S5; the movement which 
broke the back of the rebellion, 1S7; at 
Paducah, Ky., 187; "insanity" changed 
front, 1S8; friendship between Grant and 
Sherman begun, 189; commands a divi- 
sion, 190; at Shiloh, 194; the battle, 195; 
self-vindication, 201; possibilities of Shi- 
loh, 202; major-general of volunteers, 
a new shuffle, 203; at Corinth, 204; how 
Sherman saved Grant to the country, 206; 
in command of the district of Memphis, 
208; ruler of a city, 209; cotton question, 
212; Memphis as a military base, 213; 
river campaign against Vicksburg, 214; 
command of the Secord Corps, Army of 
the Mississippi, 216; Arkansas post, 217; 
forging ahead, 217; command of the Fif- 
teenth Army Corps, 21S; operations above 
Vicksburg, 219; operations below Vicks- 
burg, 221; nips a conspiracy, 222; Sher- 
man makes a feint and Grant a move, 225; 
the campaign in the rear of Vicksburg, 
225; attempts to storm the city unsuccess- 
ful, 227; the city (siege), 229; defends the 
besieging army from the rear, 230; com- 
mands an expedition against Jackson, 
231; the Mississippi controlled " unvexed 
to the sea," 231; views sought on recon- 
struction, 232; a hurry order, 234; com- 
mands the Department and Army of 
the Tennessee, 235; at Chattanooga, 236; 
"forty rounds in the cartridge box and 
twenty in the pocket," 238; again on the 
offensive, 238; Missionary Ridge, 239; re- 
lief of Knoxville, 242; thanks of Con- 
gress, 243; the expedition to Meridian, 
Miss., 243; at New Orleans, 246; Grant's 
appreciative tribute to Sherman, 247; 
Sherman's pathetic tribute to Grant, 248; 
commands the military division of the 
Mississippi, 249; chapter of incidents 
249; planning a closing campaign, 251; 
preparations for the invasion of Georgia, 
252; Sherman's army of invasion, 252; 
field orders concerning impedimenta, 
254; Grant's final orders and Sherman's 
reply, 256; the campaign in Georgia, 257; 
the battle of Dallas, 260; results of the 
operations of May, 261; establishes a 
secondary base, 262; movements on Kene- 
saw, 263; battle of Kenesaw, 266; cam- 
paign gallantries, 267; a real "Fourth of 
July," 268; crossing the Chattahoochee — 



Sherman, William Tecumseh — Continued. 
approaching Atlanta, 270; a cavalry di- 
version, 271: Atlanta next, 273; before 
Atlanta, 274; combats on Peach Tree 
Creek, 275; closing up, 276; the battle 
of Atlanta, 276, one of the decisive 
battles of the civil war, 284; operations 
around and siege of Atlanta, 286; Pres- 
idential pleasantries, 287; cavalry move- 
ments, 288; major-general, Regular Army, 
290; raiding Sherman's communications, 
290; counter cavalry movements, 290; 
false hopes, 292; battle of Jonesboro, 
292; fall of Atlanta, 293; occupation of 
Atlanta — ruler of a Ftate, 2114; necessities 
of war, 295; General Grant's plans and 
appreciation, 296; march to the sea sug- 
gested, 296; fate of Atlanta, 297; opposing 
chiefs take up the pen, 297; resting on 
its laurels, 299; statistics of the campaign, 
299; negotiations which came to naught, 
300; a diversion not in the Articles of 
War, 302; Hood off for Tennessee, with 
Thomas after him, 303; pursuit of Hood, 
303; " I can make Georgia howl," 305; 
Washington willing, 306; retaliatory 
measures, 306; fighting battles by procla- 
mation, 307; concentrating for the march 
to the sea, 307; "Go on as you propose," 
308; "All right," 308; organization of the 
Army, 309; field orders, 310; destruction 
of Atlanta, 312; march to the sea, 312; 
to Milledgeville, 313; those saddle bags, 
314; a legislature on the wing, 313; frantic 
appeals. 315; next stop will be Milieu, 
316; on the road to Savannah, 317; "The 
sea! the sea!!" 318; taking of Fort Mc- 
Alister, 319; visits the scout boat, 321; 
siege of Savannah, 322; enemy abandons 
Savannah, 323; a merry Christmas, 324: 
again on the move, 324; invasion of the 
Carolinas, — ; finale of the "March to 
the sea," 326; again tendered the thanks 
of Congress, 326; cotton and negro ques- 
tion once more, 326; triumph of another 
kind, 32S; from politics again to war, 329; 
campaign in the Carolinas, 329; Golds- 
barb the objective, 331; crossing the 
South Edisto, 332; occupation of Colum- 
bia, 332; a reminiscence of former davs, 
333; crossing the Catawba, 336; Cheraw, 
337; war and wine, 338; crossing the 
Pedee, 339; again in touch with the coast, 
339; on to Goldsboro, 340; how heroes 
feel, 341; "objective" gained — base 



Index. 



409 



Sherman, William Tecumseh— Continued, 
against Richmond, 341; longest march 
in history, 342; enters the theater of 
Grant's operations, 343; reminiscent, 344; 
girding up the lines, 345; a visit to City 
Point, 345; something overlooked, 346; 
parting words, 347; the final round up, 
348; fall of Richmond, 349; capture of 
Raleigh, 349; flag of truce from the 
enemy, 350; consider terms of surrender, 
350; the original terms signed, 352; out- 
line of the original terms, 353; disap- 
proval of terms of surrender — arrival of 
Grant, 354; dispatch of March 3, 355; 
Admiral Porter's interpretation, 355: 
making the record, 356; Johnston's un- 
conditional surrender, 35S; flight of 
Jefferson Davis and the gold fake, 359: 
the victor's move on Richmond, 359; on 
to Washington, 360; the grand review — 
the finale, 361; field orders and farewell, 
363; peace, duties, and Pacific railways, 
364; on a strange mission, 366; a trouble- 
some situation, 368; Indian peace com- 
missioner, 369; mounting a hobby, 369; 
in command of the armies of the United 
States, 370; a tour abroad, 371; head- 
quarters' troubles, 371; retires from 
active duty, 372; refuses a Presidential 
nomination, 373: stick to the text, 374; 
seeks the whirl of the metropolis, 374; 
death of Mrs. Sherman, 374; an incident 
in which Mrs. Sherman figured, 375; 
closing scenes, 375; a "bad night," 376; 
death his only Conqueror, 377; public 
sorrow and private grief, 377; a sorrow- 
ing throng, 378; the funeral train, 379; 
"taps," 380; William Tecumseh Sherman, 
3S0; in the (official) Record, 385; in books 
and bibliography. 391; in art, 57; in 
orator >', 61. 

Sherman, Mrs., death of, 374 ; incident, 375. 

Sherman, family, received, 105, 123. 

Sherman Monument, 9, 13, 17 ; the story of, 
27. 

Sherman Plaza, 25. 

Sherman's tribute to Grant, 248. 

Shiloh, battle of, 3S6; possibilities of, 202; 
Sherman at, 192 ; position of army, 192 ; 
movements of the enemy, 193, 194 ; posi- 
tion of division, 194; battle, 195, 196, 197, 
198, 199, 200, 201. 

Shiloh Church, Tenn., 192. 

Ships Gap, Ga., 257. 



Shipwrecked, 149, 150. 

Sickles, Gen. Daniel E., address, 81. 

Site of statue, 25. 

Slavery, speech concerning, 162. 

Slocum, Gen. H. W., 309, 313, 317, 325, 329, 
342, 343, 375, 37S. 

Smith, Carl Rohl-, sculptor, death of, 24. 

Smithfield, N. C, 341. 

Smyrna, Ga., 267. 

Snake Creek Gap, Ga., 257, 256. 

Soaps Creek, Ga., 271. 

Society of. (See name of army. ) 

Sorrowing throng, a, 

Stafford. Rev. D. J., invocation, 90. 

Stands, the, 33. 

Stands by the Flag, 163. 

State Arsenal, superintendent of, 160. 

Statistics of the campaign, 299. 

Statue, Sherman, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, iS, 19, 20, 
21, 22, 23, 24, 25 (site), 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 
32 ; committee, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 ; cost of, 22 ; 
contract for, 21 ; improvement of sur- 
roundings, 16; appropriations for, 16; 
commission created, 15; measurements, 
24; work to be carried on by representa- 
tives of the late sculptor, 24. (Further 
details indexed.) 

Steeles Bayou, Miss., expedition, 387. 

Strength of armies, invasion of Georgia. 
253, 255; battle of Atlanta, 283; Atlanta 
campaign, 299; pursuit of Hood, 303, 304; 
march to the sea, 309, 310; campaign in 
the Carolinas, 330, 331; final movements, 
348. 

Subfoundation of statue, 23. 

Sumter, Fort, S.C., reminiscent, 344. 

Superintendent of a military college, 159, 
160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167. 

Surrender of Johnston, unconditional, 358. 

Surrender of United States arsenal, 164. 

Surveyor, 146. 

Sutter's fort, Cal., 145. 

Symons, Col. T. W., 11, 36, 42, 49, 99, 100; 
complimented, 101. 

Tallahatchie, Miss., 214, 3S7. 

Taps, 380. 

Tenders his services, 171. 

Tennessee, Army and Department of, 188, 
190, 193, 214, 218, 222, 233, 235, 246, 249, 250, 
253, 254, 255, 258, 268, 277, 278, 279, 2S0, 281, 

. 282, 2S3, 284, 285, 2S6, 287, 294, 3S8, Society 
of the Army of the, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 
21, 38, 41, 53; reunion, 103, 104; incident, 
i°5- 



4io 



Index. 



Tennessee River, passage of, at East Port, 
Ala., 3S7; line of operations suggested, 
187; reconnoiters, 190. 

Thanks of Congress, 243, 326, 390. 

Theater, an incident, 250; of Grant's oper- 
ations entered, 343. 

Theaters, Sherman, 370. 

Thomas, Gen. George H., 203, 205, 241, 249, 
252, 253, 258, 259, 260, 271, 273, 274, 275, 293, 

3°! . 3°3. 3°8, 343- 
Thorndike, William Tecumseh Sherman, 

49; unveils the statue, 57, 59. 
Tickets, 37, 38. 
Torpedoes, 31S. 
Tour of Europe, 390. 
Transcontinental railway, 147. 
Troublesome situation, a, 368. 
Truce, flag of, 350. 
Tunnel Hill, Ga., 258. 
Turner's ferry, Ga., 268. 
Tuscumbia, Ala., 235. 
Tybee Roads, Ga., 321. 
Ulcofauhatchee, Ga., crossing, 314. 
"Uncle Billy," 313, 318. 
Union affairs at St. Louis, 170. 
Union League Club of New York, birthday 

reception, 376. 
Unison of harmony and step, 48. 
Unveiling commission, the, 49. 
Vicksburg, Miss., 203, 207, 213, 214, 217, 21S, 



Vicksburg, Miss. — Continued. 
219, 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226; pursued to 
works, 227,228,229,230,231; siege, surren- 
der, 387, 388. 

Vinings Station, Ga., 270, 304. 

Visiting scenes of later triumphs, 135. 

Walnut Hills, Miss., 215; seizure of, 387. 

War, a pageant of, 45. 

Washington, D. C, off for, under orders, 
147; defense of, 386; march to, 360, 389; 
viewing battlefields, 360. 

Wassaw Sound, 321. 

West Point, N. Y., enters, 132; career at, 132. 

West Point, Ga., 292. 

Wilmington, N. C, 336, 339. 

Wine and war, 338. 

Winnsboro, N. C, 336. 

Wounded, 386. 

Yalabusha River, Miss., 214. 

Yazoo, Miss., expedition, in command, 3S7. 

Yazoo Cit}- (Chickasaw Bluffs), Miss., 214, 
215,223. 

Yazoo River, Miss., reconnoissance for a 
lodgment, 219, 220, 221, 230. 

Yellow Creek, Miss., 191. 

Yerba Buena, Cal., 140. 

Young, Lieut. Gen. S. B. M., grand mar- 
shal, 11, 36. 45. 49. 

Youngs Point, Miss., 221, 224. 

Youth, 131. 



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